Kitchin, William Walton
Item
- Connection to Legacies of American Slavery Database
- Name
- One-line bio
- Biography
- Date of Birth
- Date of Death
- Historical Period
- Related Organization(s)
- Related Person(s)
- Employed By
- Wikidata Link
-
Kitchin, William Walton
-
Democratic US Representative from 1897 - 1909 and North Carolina governor from 1909 - 1913 who assisted in the creation of the 1898 White Supremacy Campaign.
-
William Walton Kitchin was born in Scotland Neck, North Carolina on October 9, 1866. W. W. Kitchin attended Wake Forest College and studied law at the University of North Carolina. Son of a confederate soldier and member of congress, Kitchin began his own political career at the age of 24; although nominated for state senate in 1892, he would not win political appointment until 1896 with election to the Congress as a Democrat. Kitchin was appointed to the board of trustees for the Baptist Female University, now known as Meredith College, a position he held from 1894 to 1896. Kitchin would have occasional yet continued interaction with the campus over his lifetime. He would be reelected to Congress for six terms, from 1897 to 1903, which coincided with a new wave of Democratic leadership. During this time, he would assist in the creation and implementation of the 1898 White Supremacy Campaign, along with many family members, like his brother Claude Kitchin. In 1908, Kitchin was elected Governor of North Carolina and served from 1909 to 1913. Kitchin adamantly opposed social equality between races, and built his political campaign for Governor over his view of “Negro Misrule.” He pushed for the abolition or heavy restriction of the 15th amendment in an attempt to hinder African Americans’ right to hold office and to vote. As governor, Kitchin would increase funding for education while upholding Lost Cause ideologies on Raleigh campuses, including Meredith College, and attended events commemorating Confederate soldiers with students.
-
October 9, 1866
-
November 9, 1924
-
State of North Carolina
Position: 569 (112 views)