Oscar G. Lawless

Oscar G. Lawless
Jet Jun 26, 1969

Oscar Godfrey Lawless was born on December 12, 1894 in Thibodaux, Louisiana to Harriet Dunn and Alfred Lawless. His family moved to New Orleans when Oscar was young, and he grew up in the city. His father was a congregationalist minister and founded the Beecher Memorial Congregational Church. He also worked as a school principal. His older brother was the medical doctor, Theodore K. Lawless.

For school, Oscar took college preparatory classes at Straight University (now Dillard University). He then went to Alabama to attend Talladega College. His brother Theodore also attended the college at the same time. Oscar graduated from Talladega in 1917. 

Oscar's studies were interrupted by the First World War. He received officer training at the Tuskegee Institute and served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 350th Machine Gun Battalion. 

After the war (in fall 1919), Lawless returned to Talladega and served as the professor of mathematics and physics. Also at the college was John Tate Cater who served as dean and professor of education. In December 1921, Lawless elected to membership in the American Mathematical Society. At the time, only one Black mathematician, John Cromwell, was an AMS member. Professor Cater was elected to membership a few years later, in 1926.

While receiving military training, he married Maxie Sadie Howes. It appears that their marriage failed, although I have been unable to any details. While Maxie retained her married name "Lawless," by 1930, she was living apart from Oscar and working in the garment industry in New York City. 

Oscar himself left Talladega College around 1930. He moved to Atlanta to attend Atlanta University. He supported himself by teaching, and in 1932, he received an M.A. degree. His degree was awarded for a masters thesis in education. Titled "A Statistical Analysis of the Achievement of the Atlanta University College Students," the thesis is a statistical study comparing student performance on a standardized test with their performance at the university. 

After Atlanta University, Oscar moved to Austin, Texas to teach at Samuel Huston College (now Huston–Tillotson University). He remained at Huston until the 1950s. He moved to Chicago and worked in real estate. Oscar died of a heart attack in 1969.

The collected papers of his father, Alfred Lawless, are held by the Amistad Research Center. The collection includes a biography of Alfred that Oscar wrote. 

Sources

1. Herald and Review, 13 Feb 1918, p. 8.

2. Our Mountain Home, 20 Mar 1918, p. 8.

3. "Texans in Chicago." The Pittsburgh Courier 20 Sep 1952, p. 9.

4. "Dr. Thurman Sees Need For Negro Colleges." The Call, 6 Jul 1956, p. 2.

5. "Lawless, Retired Math Teacher, Dies of Heart Attack." Jet Jun 26, 1969. p. 22.

6. "Oscar Lawless Expires in Austin, Texas." The Louisiana Weekly, Jun 14, 1969. p. 6.

7. Year: 1910; Census Place: New Orleans Ward 7, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: T624_521; Page: 4a; Enumeration District: 0118; FHL microfilm: 1374534

8. Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 2417; FHL microfilm: 2340154

9. Year: 1940; Census Place: Austin, Travis, Texas; Roll: m-t0627-04149; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 227-39