How tuberculosis silenced America’s first celebrated Black poet

Paul Laurence Dunbar’s Meteoric Rise and Early Death

The Paul Laurence Dunbar House in Dayton shows what happens when talent meets impossible odds. Born to former slaves in 1872, Paul started writing poetry at six while his mother worked as a washerwoman.

As the only Black student at his high school, he befriended Orville Wright but couldn’t get hired at newspapers due to his race. So he sold his poems to elevator passengers for a dollar each.

A critic’s praise launched him to international fame, but alcoholism and tuberculosis killed him at just 33. The story of America’s first celebrated Black poet reveals both triumph and tragedy in equal measure.

Born to Former Slaves in Dayton, Ohio

Paul Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, at 311 Howard Street in Dayton, Ohio. His parents, Joshua and Matilda, were both slaves in Kentucky before getting free.

When Paul turned two, his parents split up, leaving Matilda to raise Paul and his sister alone.

His father Joshua, who escaped slavery and fought with the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, died on August 16, 1885, when Paul was 13.

Matilda washed clothes for local families, including the Wrights, to support her children. Paul started writing poems at six and gave his first public reading at nine.

The Only Black Student in His High School Became a Literary Star

At Dayton Central High School, Paul was the only Black student but became popular among his classmates. He led the school’s literary society as president, ran the school newspaper as editor, and served as class poet.

One of his friends was Orville Wright, who later became famous for flying planes with his brother Wilbur.

By 16, Paul published his first poems, “Our Martyred Soldiers” and “On The River,” in Dayton’s The Herald newspaper in 1888.

Two years later, he created The Dayton Tattler, the city’s first weekly Black newspaper, printed by the Wright brothers’ company.

From High School Graduate to Elevator Operator

After high school in 1891, Paul wanted to study law, but his family couldn’t afford college. He tried to find journalism work, but racism blocked his path.

Instead, he got a job running an elevator in the Callahan Building, making just four dollars weekly. Between elevator trips, Paul read books and wrote poetry, becoming known for this habit among building workers.

He kept writing articles and poems for Dayton newspapers during this time. The Wright brothers helped him connect with local printers, setting up his future career.

Selling Poetry Books to Elevator Passengers

In 1893, Paul took a chance and self-published his first poetry collection with United Brethren Publishing House, paying $125 for printing.

He named the book “Oak and Ivy,” filling it with both dialect poems and standard English verse. To sell copies, Paul offered his book to people riding in his elevator for one dollar each.

His sales pitch worked so well that he earned back his money within weeks. This success in Dayton gave him hope to reach readers beyond his hometown.

A Teacher’s Invitation Changed Everything

A former teacher asked Paul to speak at the Western Association of Writers meeting in Dayton in 1892, giving him his first big break.

When he read his poetry in what listeners called a beautiful voice, the crowd of writers paid attention. Poet James Newton Matthews wrote nice comments about Paul that newspapers across the country printed.

This publicity brought Paul’s name to readers far beyond Ohio for the first time.

Popular poet James Whitcomb Riley read the praise and sent Paul an encouraging letter, adding another supporter to his growing fan base.

Meeting Frederick Douglass at the Chicago World’s Fair

Paul went to Chicago for the World’s Fair in 1893, hoping to find more chances for his writing career.

There he met civil rights leader Frederick Douglass, who liked the young poet and gave him a job working at the Haitian pavilion.

Douglass set up poetry readings for Paul at the fair, telling people he was “the most promising young colored man in America. ” The Chicago trip connected Paul with writers and cultural leaders from across the country.

These new friendships helped turn him from a local talent into a national literary figure.

A Famous Critic’s Review Made Him Famous Overnight

With money help from Dr. Henry Tobey of Toledo, Paul published his second poetry collection “Majors and Minors” in 1895.

The book had poems in standard English (the “majors”) alongside dialect verse (the “minors”).

On Paul’s 24th birthday, June 27, 1896, everything changed when critic William Dean Howells published a great review in Harper’s Weekly.

Howells really liked the dialect poems, quickly making Paul famous across America and overseas. This recognition turned him from a regional poet into the first nationally celebrated Black poet in the country.

His Love Story Began with Letters and Ended in Secret Marriage

Paul’s third book “Lyrics of Lowly Life” came out in 1896 with an intro by Howells, building his literary fame. In 1897, he traveled to England for a six-month reading tour, winning fans across the ocean.

During this busy time, he started writing letters to Alice Ruth Moore, a 19-year-old teacher and writer from New Orleans.

Their letters lasted two years before they finally met in person at his goodbye party in February 1897. That night, Paul asked Alice to marry him.

The couple secretly wed on March 6, 1898, despite Alice’s family not approving.

Moving to Washington and Battling Illness

Paul got a job as a clerk at the Library of Congress in Washington, D. C., in 1897, giving him steady pay for the first time.

He and Alice moved to the nice LeDroit Park neighborhood, quickly becoming important in Washington’s Black social circles.

By 1898, Paul left his Library job to write and give readings full-time, which meant constant travel. The hard schedule hurt his health, and he got pneumonia in 1899.

A year later, doctors found he had tuberculosis and suggested whiskey for his symptoms. This medical advice led to growing alcohol problems.

His Marriage Fell Apart in the Colorado Mountains

Paul and Alice moved to Colorado in 1900 after doctors said mountain air might help his tuberculosis. Living far from friends, with Paul drinking more, their marriage started breaking down.

Alice became more nurse than wife as Paul’s health got worse. His alcohol problems caused violent behavior, and neighbors heard him hitting Alice.

By March 1898, Alice learned Paul cheated with a seamstress named Maud.

The final break came in 1902 when Paul beat Alice so badly she left him for good, though they never officially divorced.

His Mother Cared for Him Until the End

After Alice left, Paul fell into depression and had a nervous breakdown, drinking more than before.

Despite his poor health, he kept writing at an amazing pace, creating collections like “Lyrics of Love and Laughter” in 1903.

In 1904, Paul returned to Dayton to live with his mother, buying a nice two-story brick house for them both. His tuberculosis grew worse, and he spent his final years under Matilda’s loving care.

Paul wrote until the very end, creating poems even as his strength faded.

On February 9, 1906, Paul Laurence Dunbar died at just 33 years old, leaving behind over 400 poems, 12 poetry books, 4 novels, and many short stories.

Visiting Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park

You can visit Paul Laurence Dunbar’s restored home at 219 N. Paul Laurence Dunbar Street in Dayton for free.

The park is open Friday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with the last tour at 3:30pm. Start at the visitor center on Edison Street to watch an 18-minute film about Dunbar’s life.

You’ll tour his two-story house and see the historic barn. Call 937-225-7705, ext. 224 for group reservations.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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