Ralph Bunche
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Ralph Johnson Bunche (1904 - 1971)

Dr. Ralph Johnson Bunche
Born in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of
Husband of — married 23 Jun 1930 in District of Columbia, United Statesmap
Father of , and
Died at age 67 in New York, New York, United Statesmap
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Biography

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Ralph Bunche is Notable.
US Black Heritage Project
Ralph Bunche was awarded the Spingarn Medal for outstanding achievement by an African American.
Ralph Bunche was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Ralph Johnson Bunche, political scientist, academic, and diplomat, was the first African-American awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.[1][2]

He was born August 7, 1903 or '04 in Detroit, Michigan,[3][2][4][5][6] the son of Frederick and Olive (Johnson) Bunche.[7] [8] In 1910, the family was living in Toledo, Ohio. In addition to Ralph and his parents, his sister Grace was also in the household. Their father, Fred, was working as a barber.[7][2][3] Ralph's mother was an amateur pianist.[2][3] Soon after the time the census was taken, the Bunches moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in order to bolster the poor health of Fred and Olive. The move didn't help as expected, and both parents were deceased only two years later.[2]

Ralph's maternal grandmother, Lucy Taylor Johnson, took Ralph and his two sisters into her home.[2] By 1920, that home was in Los Angeles.[9] Grandmother Lucy had been born into slavery and had lived with the Bunches throughout Ralph's childhood.[2] Ralph was working as an office boy at a dye works in 1920 to help support the family.[9] Other odd jobs he worked during that time included selling newspapers, working as a house boy for an actor, and laying carpet.[2] Ralph attended high school in Los Angeles at Jefferson High, where he graduated as valedictorian.[2][10][11]

After high school, he attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles on an athletic scholarship, where he played basketball and was member of the Pre-Legal Association.[12] He supported his personal needs working a janitorial job.[2] Having majored in international relations, he graduated UCLA summa cum laude in 1927, and was valedictorian of his class.[2]

Ralph attended Harvard University, thanks to a scholarship and funds raised by his local Los Angeles Black community, to further study political science. He completed his master's degree in 1928. He started teaching at Howard University while working on his doctorate at Harvard. He later did postdoctoral research at Northwestern University, the London School of Economics, and at Capetown University, in South Africa.[2]

Involved in the civil rights movement from an early age, he especially dug in during his collegiate years. Though some of his ideas were considered somewhat radical, overall he was known as moderate in his viewpoints, including criticizing equally the U.S. social system and the established Black organizations. He worked with Martin Luther King, Jr, supported the NAACP, and aided U.S. presidents in their minorities policy. His position in sum was that racial inequality made no scientific sense and that segregation and democracy were incompatible. In his words, democracy is color-blind.[2]

Ralph married Ruth Ethel Harris of Montgomery, Alabama, on June 23, 1930 in the District of Columbia.[3][13] They had three children together, Joan, Jane, and Ralph Jr.[3]

In 1940, Ralph, Ruth, and their first two children were living in Washington, D.C. He was working as a research professor at Howard University, while Ruth was teaching at a bible school.[14]

At various times working as advisor, diplomat, or mediator, his most notable role was his work between the Arabs and Jews in the Palestinian conflict. When his superior was assassinated, Ralph was appointed the head of the negotiations. Within 11 months, he was able to mediate an agreement between the groups and establish a cease-fire.[2][15]

Ralph Bunche received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his peacekeeping efforts in Israel in the late 1940s. He was the first African-American to receive the prize. He was involved in the formation and administration of the United Nations, and the ongoing efforts of the U.N. to establish peace in war-torn areas.[2] He eventually held the highest role at the U.N. that any American official had held up to that point, that of Undersecretary.[3] He received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP in 1949, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy in 1963. He also received over 30 honorary degrees.[2]

Forced to retire from his role at the U.N. in October of 1971 due to health concerns,[16] Ralph Bunche died two months later, on December 9, 1971 at New York Hospital at age 77.[16][4][6][3] Funeral services were held in Riverside Church.[16] He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York.[6]

Sources

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Ralph Bunche," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, Wikipedia:Ralph Bunche (accessed January 31, 2018).
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Ralph Bunche – Biographical. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2019. Thu. 1 Aug 2019. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1950/bunche/biographical
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Dr. Ralph Bunche, UN Diplomat, Dies Thu, Dec 9, 1971, Page 1, Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, Michigan) via Newspapers.com
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014. Ancestry Record 3693 #8015530
  5. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line, by subscription]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.The National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for District of Columbia, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 031 Ancestry Record 2238 #6577188
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Find A Grave, database and images: accessed 01 August 2019), memorial page for Ralph Johnson Bunche (7 Aug 1904–9 Dec 1971), Find A Grave: Memorial #149, citing Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, Bronx County, New York, USA; Maintained by Find A Grave.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLDN-QS5 : accessed 8 February 2018), Ralph Bunch in household of Fred Bunch, Toledo Ward 8, Lucas, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 109, sheet 3B, family 59, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1209; FHL microfilm 1,375,222. Mother's name: Olive
  8. ↑ Parents Marriage: "Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952"
    Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 76; Film Description: 1902 Saginaw-1902 Wexford
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9093 #652826 (accessed 10 August 2022)
    Frederick O'Bunch (23) marriage to Olive A Johnson on 15 Sep 1902 in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH7S-H4J : accessed 6 February 2019), Ralph Bunch in household of Albert Johnson, Los Angeles Assembly District 73, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing ED 388, sheet 3A, line 48, family 73, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 113; FHL microfilm 1,820,113.
  10. ↑ "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Jefferson High School; Year: 1921 Image
  11. ↑
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Ancestry Record 1265 #301919841
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Ancestry Record 1265 #301919700
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Ancestry Record 1265 #182581531
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Ancestry Record 1265 #301919322<
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010."U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Jefferson High School; Year: 1921 Ancestry Record 1265 #301919103
  12. ↑
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: University of Southern California; Year: 1924 Ancestry Record 1265 #243428425
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: University of Southern California; Year: 1925 Ancestry Record 1265 #244262537
    • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: University of Southern California; Year: 1925 Image
  13. ↑ "District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNT4-N69 : 27 September 2017), Ralph Johnson Bunche and Ruth Ethel Harris, 23 Jun 1930; citing p. 367, Records Office, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2,399,055
  14. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K73M-YX1 : 15 March 2018), Ralph J Bunch, Tract 34, District of Columbia, Police Precinct 10, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1-423, sheet 5A, line 8, family 58, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 567.
  15. ↑ "Ralph Bunche, United Nations mediator in Palestine during the 1948 conflict between the Arabs and Jews", www.un.org, accessed 1 Aug 2019
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Ancestry.com. Associated Press, Name Card Index to AP Stories, 1905-1990 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Image

See also:

  • Wikidata: Item Q213500 help.gif
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24J1-WHJ : 12 March 2018), Ralph J Bunche, 1933; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "California, Los Angeles Passenger Lists, 1907-1948," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZQC-4BJ : 13 March 2018), Ralph J Bunche, 1938; citing Immigration, ship name Tatuta Maru, NARA microfilm publication M1764 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 87; FHL microfilm 1,734,691.
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HQC-6D6 : 15 March 2018), Ralph J Bunche, 1945; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24GS-RKM : 15 March 2018), Ralph J Bunche, 1946; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ1J-NC7 : 12 March 2018), Ralph Bunche, 01 Sep 1947; citing NARA microfilm publication M1478 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,490,457.
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPZ-J4V7 : 15 March 2018), Ralph Bunche, 1948; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24T1-L1Q : 16 March 2018), Ralph Johnson Bunche, 1950; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:241K-WNC : 16 March 2018), Ralph Bunche, 1952; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H7J-VXM : 15 March 2018), Ralph Bunche, 1953; citing Immigration, New York City, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • Ancestry.com. New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Number: 2848504; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3998; NARA Roll Number: 302 Ancestry Record 1277 #5161090
  • Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; School Name: Wayne University; Year: 1951 Image
  • Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1948; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 7689; Line: 14; Page Number: 90 Ancestry Record 7488 #3024254420
  • Ancestry.com. New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1967 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; NAI Number: 2848504; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3998; NARA Roll Number: 578 Ancestry Record 1277 #13087653
  • Ancestry.com. Illinois, Passenger and Crew List, 1943-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger and Crew Manifests of Airplanes Arriving at Chicago, Illinois; Series Number: A3716; NAI Number: 2645540; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85 Ancestry Record 9122 #315440
  • Ancestry.com. California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85 Ancestry Record 7949 #2012683
  • Ancestry.com. U.S. Virgin Islands, Passenger Lists, 1885-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. The National Archives at Washington, D.C; Washington, D.C; Series Title: Passenger Manifests of Airplanes Arriving at Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; NAI Number: 2953534; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: A3807; NARA Roll Number: 9 Ancestry Record 9127 #568869
  • Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Year: 1948; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 7636; Line: 3; Page Number: 218 Ancestry Record 7488 #3023772993
  • Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Ancestry Record 2997 #142002599
  • Ancestry.com. Associated Press, Name Card Index to AP Stories, 1905-1990 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Image
  • Ancestry.com. Associated Press, Name Card Index to AP Stories, 1905-1990 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Image
  • Ancestry.com. Associated Press, Name Card Index to AP Stories, 1905-1990 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Image
  • Ancestry.com. California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2017. California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968 Image
  • Ancestry.com. District of Columbia, Marriage Records, 1810-1953 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Ancestry Record 61404 #148401
  • "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JKT2-9PT : 21 August 2020), Ralph Bunche, Dec 1971; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).




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Ryder-1228 C Ryder
Congrats for an impressive profile!
posted by C Ryder
Brown-8212 Abby (Brown) Glann
Hi there profile managers! We'll be featuring Ralph's profile August 7th as our Example Profile of the Week. Feel free to do some sprucing up between now and then. I'll stop by closer to the date to make sure everything's ready to go.

Thanks! Abby

posted by Abby (Brown) Glann
Brown-8212 Abby (Brown) Glann
He's connected now! We'll work on his biography closer to the 7th.

Abby

posted by Abby (Brown) Glann
Brown-8212 Abby (Brown) Glann
Hey there trusted list folks,

If we can get Ralph connected in the next few weeks, I'd love to feature him in the connection finder Aug 7, his birthday. I'll give it a go-just a heads up in case you want to improve his profile during that time, too!

Thanks, Abby

posted by Abby (Brown) Glann

Featured Asian and Pacific Islander connections: Ralph is 33 degrees from 今上 天皇, 26 degrees from Adrienne Clarkson, 32 degrees from Dwight Heine, 32 degrees from Dwayne Johnson, 30 degrees from Tupua Tamasese Lealofioaana, 25 degrees from Stacey Milbern, 24 degrees from Sono Osato, 38 degrees from 乾隆 愛新覺羅, 26 degrees from Ravi Shankar, 34 degrees from Taika Waititi, 33 degrees from Penny Wong and 24 degrees from Chang Bunker on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.

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