Historian Carter G. Woodson launches Negro History Week during the second week of February, chosen to align with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
At a Glance
- Date
- 1 February 1926
- Location
- United States
- Key people
- Carter G. Woodson
- Category
- Education & HBCUs
- Source
- Association for the Study of African American Life and History records · ASALH
What It Meant Then
It created the first sustained national effort to teach and celebrate Black history.
What It Means Now
Negro History Week grew into Black History Month, observed each February.
Also on 1 February
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Negro History Week Is First Observed.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/negro-history-week-is-first-observed/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Negro History Week Is First Observed. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/negro-history-week-is-first-observed/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Negro History Week Is First Observed.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/negro-history-week-is-first-observed/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.