found: African American National Biography, accessed February 20, 2015, via Oxford African American Studies Center database:(Langston, John Mercer; sculptor, civil rights activist, diplomat, lawyer, political figure; born14 December, 1829 in Louisa County, Virginia, United States; BA degree, Oberlin College (1849); first black graduate of theological program, Oberlin College (1853); orator, black civil rights movement, Ohio (1848-1860s); helped forming of the Republican Party on the Western Reserve; was township clerk on the Free Democratic (Free Soil) ticket (1855), public executive and adroit attorney, Oberlin College (1856-1871); organized and headed Ohio State Anti-Slavery Society (1858); was elected first president of the National Equal Rights League (1864-1868); founded law department and was first law dean, Howard University (1869), vice president and acting president, Howard University (1873-1875); was appointed to Board of Health of District of Columbia (1871-1877) and U.S. minister and consul general to Haiti (1877-1885); headed state college for African Americans, the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, Petersburg (1885-1887); became the first African American elected to Congress from Virginia (1890); died 15 November, 1897 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States)
