Allensworth Inducted into Hall of Fame

On October 15, 2012 Allen Allensworth was posthumously inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame. Formed in 1995, the Hall of Fame acknowledges men and women that have made distinguished contributions to the field of adult and continuing education.

Chaplain Allensworth was honored as a practitioner and pioneer in adult education for his educational contributions and achievements during his service with the 24^th Infantry Regiment, an all Black regiment of “Buffalo Soldiers.”

Most of the soldiers in the 24^th Infantry Regiment were former slaves or sons of former slaves that were not permitted to learn how to read and write. As the regiment’s chaplain the education of these soldiers fell on Allensworth.  However the Army gave chaplains little guidance and very limited supplies and materials. Allensworth took it upon himself to develop an educational program that would later be used Army wide.

In 1891 Allensworth traveled at his own expense to the National Education Association conference in Toronto, Canada, where he lectured on “The History and Progress of Military Education in the United States.” Chaplain Allensworth’s commitment to education not only enriched the lives of the soldiers in the 24^th Infantry Regiment but also enriched the lives of soldiers all across the United States Army.

A plaque with a photograph of Colonel Allensworth and a description of his contributions to the field of adult education is displayed at the International Adult and Continuing Education Hal of Fame, located at the University of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Center for Continuing Education in Norman, Oklahoma. Chaplain Allensworth and the other inductees are profited on the Hall of Fame website.