Dr. Hobart Sidney Jarrett (1915-2005) was a respected scholar, educator, and leader in Black community organizations. His contributions to African American literature, civil rights advocacy, and Black fraternity history underscore his legacy as a dedicated advocate for education and social progress.
Hobart Jarrett was born in 1915 in Arlington, Texas, and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he survived the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Jarrett’s academic journey began with a scholarship to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, where he graduated in 1936 with a degree in English. While at Wiley he served on its famous debate team. After Wiley, Jarrett earned a master’s degree in English in 1937 from Syracuse University. He later received a prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship to study at Harvard University. Following his studies at Harvard, he returned to Syracuse, where he completed a Ph.D. in humanities.
Dr. Jarrett’s teaching career began in 1937 at Langston University in Oklahoma, where he held positions as an instructor, associate professor, chair of the Modern Languages Department, and dean of personnel. In 1949, he accepted a position at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, as professor and chair of the Humanities Division. During his time at Bennett, Jarrett played an active role in the Greensboro Citizens Association, an organization that bridged the gap between civil rights activists and the local community. Through this group, Jarrett worked with students and Greensboro community members, facilitating dialogue with local merchants and supporting the emerging civil rights movement. In 1961, Jarrett became a professor in the English Department in Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY). One of a handful of Black professors at predominantly white institutions at the time of his appointment, he held that position until his retirement in 1986.
Jarrett was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, where he remained active for over 70 years. Additionally, as a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Boulé), he authored The History of Sigma Pi Phi: First of the African-American Greek-Letter Fraternities, Volume Two (1995), which documented the Black men’s organization’s role in fostering Black professional networks and leadership. His work on this history highlighted the Boulé’s impact on Black civic life and positioned the organization as a model for community leadership.
Jarrett was also active in the COMUS Club of Brooklyn and the 100 Black Men of New York City. He received presidential medals from three U.S. presidents honoring his contributions to education, civil rights, and social justice.
Dr. Hobart Sidney Jarrett passed away on May 8, 2005 in New York City at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife Gladys, brother W.E. Jarrett, and sisters Mae Kathryn Copeland, Brooksie Sylvan, and Vernice Jarrett. His contributions to African American literature, his documentation of Black fraternal history, and his role as a civil rights advocate reflect his commitment to the values of education, leadership, and service.
