Dr. Army Daniel, Jr. Interview - Historic Huntsville Foundation

Dr. Army Daniel, Jr. sat down with Historic Huntsville Foundation Executive Director Donna Castellano in August 2023 and shared the story of his life, which began over ninety years ago in Jackson Mississippi. He lost his father, Army Daniel Sr., to racial violence. He lost his mother to grief, as she was unable to overcome the death of her husband. He lost his best friend, Medger Evers, to an assassin’s bullet.

Still, Dr. Daniel pressed on, led by his faith, tenacity, intelligence, and determination to change our nation so that America’s children could live in a country where all had equal opportunity. Dr. Daniel’s life is an inspiration.

Dr. Daniel is a masterful narrator of his journey. We included photographs, newspaper articles, and other informational materials to provide historical context to his story.

A grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance funded this project.

Farish Street, Jackson, MS

Farish Street c. 1940s – Downtown Jackson, MS / Source?

Army Daniel, Jr., grew up in downtown Jackson, MS. He describes his experiences on Farish Street, the so-called “black mecca of Mississippi,” which was the largest economically independent community in Mississippi in the mid-twentieth century.

Resources discussing Farish Street:

Clarion-Ledger - December 7, 1975

Obituary for Abraham L. Coury, the Jackson resident who gave a young Army Daniel a job and purchased his first suit. Coury owned and operated Star Market on Farish Street until retiring in 197Daniel took on increasing responsibilities within in the store, with Mr. Coury acting as mentor.

Clarion-Ledger – December 6, 1941

Advertisement for Star Market

Clarion-Ledger – April 22, 1970

Obituary for A. H. McCoy, a dentist on Farish Street who hired Daniel’s wife, Frances, as a receptionist. Mr. McCoy served as state president for the NAACP and was responsible for selecting Medgar Evers as field secretary of the organization.

Alcorn State University

Building at Alcorn State - “Literary Society Building”

Alcorn State History

Alcorn State University, formerly Alcorn College, is the oldest public, historically black land-grant institution in the United States, and the second oldest state-supported institution of higher learning in Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 and is located 80 miles south of Jackson, MS. Army Daniel, Jr., attended Alcorn College, where he studied physics and mathematics and played football. He also met several individuals who were influential to his involvement in the NAACP.
https://www.alcorn.edu/discover-alcorn/history/

Alcorn College c. 1949

Alcorn Braves Football

Daniel played football throughout high school and later at Alcorn College, where he was characterized as a versatile and competitive player. Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers was a teammate and close friend.

Jesse R. Otis

Jesse R. Otis was president of Alcorn College when Daniel attended and helped procure such necessities for Daniels such as new shoes and housing for Daniel’s growing family. Otis was also linked with the NAACP, an association that cost him his job due to accusations of the organization’s link to communism.

Additional information on Jesse R. Otis:

Medgar Evers's Home

Army Daniel, Jr., and Medgar Evers met at Alcorn College, where they both played football. After Evers became field secretary for the NAACP, Daniel served as chauffer and companion to his friend while traveling to meetings and rallies. Evers was assassinated outside his home in Jackson, MS, on the evening of June 12, 1963.

Additional Resources: https://www.npr.org/2023/06/12/1180727818/medgar-evers-civil-rights-60-years

https://www.mec.cuny.edu/about/history/life-of-medgar-evers/

https://mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/medgar-evers-and-the-origin-of-the-civil-rights-movement-in-mississippi

The Mississippi Enterprise – April 2, 1960

Army Daniel, Jr., awarded teacher fellowship through the National Science Foundation, through which he pursued a master’s degree at Michigan State University. The article mentions that this award was granted “solely on the basis of ability.”

Clarion-Ledger – March 6, 1966

Army Daniel, Jr., was nominated for a STAR teaching award in 1966 while teaching at Jim Hill High School in Jackson, MS. Each student selected as “STAR student” was “asked to

Obituary for Frances Daniel, Army’s wife.

They met while attending Alcorn College, where Frances studied Education. The couple went on to have six children together.