ASALH Mourns the Loss of Our 25th President, Dr. John Fleming
For more than 110 years, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has been guided by presidents whose leadership has shaped both the organization and broader society. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder, demonstrated effective leadership by inspiring capable individuals to advance the Association’s mission. ASALH consistently selects leaders dedicated to promoting, preserving, and protecting Black history. This tradition continued with the 25th president, Dr. John Fleming, Ph.D., whose leadership and commitment significantly contributed to the organization’s development.
Dr. Fleming served as our president from 2007 to 2009 and joined ASALH after a lengthy career leading and founding organizations. Additionally, he was a senior fellow in the Institute for the Study of Educational Policy at Howard University; and as the director of the National Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Museum Center in Cincinnati, and the International African American Museum in Charleston. He was also the Senior Historian for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.
In addition to authoring three books and 45 articles and chapters, he served on the board of dozens of organizations, including the American Association of Museums. Dr. Fleming was awarded lifetime achievement and distinguished service awards by the Ohioana Library, Ohio Museums Association, Berea College, the National Peace Corps, the Association of African American Museums, and the American Association for State and Local History.
He served as Executive Producer for ‘America I Am: African American Imprint on America,’ a 12,000 square foot traveling exhibition that began in early 2009 and continued until March 2013.
Dr. Fleming was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and was married to Barbara Fleming, and they had two daughters.
The legacy established by Dr. Fleming provides a foundation for continued progress in advancing the mission of ASALH.
Dr. John Fleming’s Biography
John E. Fleming received his B.A. from Berea College and M.A. and Ph.D. from Howard University. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi, East Africa. He served as a senior fellow in the Institute for the Study of Educational Policy at Howard University before becoming the director for the National Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce, Ohio, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and the Cincinnati Museum Center in Cincinnati, the International African American Museum in Charleston and Senior Historian for the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.
Dr. Fleming has served as president of the Ohio Museums Association, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the Association of African American Museums and the American Association for State and Local History. He was appointed by President Bush to serve on the planning Commission for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Dr. Fleming was given distinguished service awards by the Association of African American Museums, the Ohio Library Association, Berea College, the American Association for State and Local History, the Association of Mid-west Museums and the National Peace Corps.
He has published four books and 46 articles and chapters in books. He was the immediate past director of the National Museum of African American Music. He was an independent Museum Consultant and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities. He was also recently appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to serve on the Ohio Semiquincentennial Commission. He was married with two daughters.