Alphonso Sumner
American newspaper proprietor, school founder
About Alphonso Sumner
Alphonso Sumner was an American newspaper proprietor, barber, abolitionist and school Founder.
Alphonso M. Sumner was an African American man who opened Nashville, Tennessee's first Black school. Sumner was also a barber, a newspaper publisher, and a Northern abolitionist.
Early life and Nashville school In the early 1830s, Sumner lived in Nashville, where he worked as a free Black barber.
Legacy Although Sumner was forced into exile, the foundation he laid in Nashville persisted. His former assistant, Daniel Wadkins, reopened a school in 1838, continuing the tradition of "clandestine" education for Nashville's Black population until the mid-1850s.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alphonso Sumner?
American newspaper proprietor, school founder
What was Alphonso Sumner's occupation?
Alphonso Sumner was a newspaper proprietor, barber, abolitionist and school Founder.
What nationality was Alphonso Sumner?
Alphonso Sumner was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alphonso Sumner. https://biography.guide/alphonso-sumner/
MLA: "Alphonso Sumner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alphonso-sumner/.
Chicago: "Alphonso Sumner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alphonso-sumner/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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