On November 12, 1925, Samuel R. Cheevers, F. C. Downs, Charles S. Duke, I. Gough, Howard D. Shaw, Dr. A. D. Watson, and A. T. Weathers met at the Wabash Avenue YMCA in Chicago to discuss formation of an organization for minorities in engineering and technology.
The National Technical Association (NTA) was founded by Charles S. Duke, who became the first African American to receive an engineering degree from Harvard University. NTA was incorporated in the state of Illinois in 1926. In the 1930s, Charles S. Duke, James A. Parsons, Cornelius L. Henderson, Lewis K. Downing and Paul E. Johnson provided outstanding leadership as presidents.
President Downing was the first engineering dean at Howard University and along with other NTA members played a major role in saving that institution's School of Engineering from closing.
From the first decade until today, NTA leadership along with its members have had a remarkable history of achievement in the areas of education, research, engineering, science and technology.
History of the National Technical Association Book Publication Project
One of the most recent projects begun by the NTA , by its Publications and Editorial Review Committee and other NTA members, is to collect information on the history of the NTA, beginning at (or even prior to) its formal creation in 1926. This information would then be published in book form, for broad distribution to NTA members and affiliates, and the general public.This was also a topic which was discussed at the NTA 2006 Conference in Chicago, the NTA 80th Anniversary program held at Howard University June 17, 2006 (see Summer, 2006 issue of the NTA Newsletter, page 7) and the NTA National Board meeting at Howard University, Washington DC, in October, 2006.
We are seeking, especially from longer-term members of NTA, copies of previous documents (NTA journals and newsletters), especially in the time period prior to 1980, for which our current collection is incomplete. We will return these items to the sender, if desired, after making copies of them for our potential use. We will also appreciate any information about where to find documents of historical relevance.We also are thankful to those of you who have already provided information. We give special thanks to John H. Thompson for his previous NTA History documents, published in previous issues of the NTA Journal and NTA Newsletter, and to Dr. Kathleen Prestwidge for her contributions and participation in this activity.NTA National Board members and NTA DC Chapter members visited the Moorland-Spingarn archives at Howard University during the October, 2006 NTA National Board Meeting, to view some of the collection of photographs and documents which are in storage there. Ms. Amy Billingsley (great-granddaughter of NTA founder Charles S. Duke) took several photos of the NTA Board (and NTA DC Chapter) participants who were in attendance.
