John Brother Cade

John Brother Cade, born on October 19, 1894, in the small town of Danburg, Georgia, to William Richard and Sarah Francis (Bradford) Cade. He was the second of six children in a family, which consisted of three boys and three girls.

Between the years of 1896 and 1900, the family moved from Wilkes County in Danburg, Georgia to Elbert County in Elberton, Georgia. It was there that John Brother Cade began his early school training in St. Paul C.M.E. Church. Upon finishing grade school he went to Knox Institute and Industrial School in Athens, Georgia graduating in 1915.

In October, 1915, he entered Atlanta University, but was called to the 17^th Provisional Training Camp Military Service at Des Moines, Iowa in June, 1917 for two years. He was commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in the Infantry and assigned for duty to Camp Dodge, Iowa with Company F. 366^th Infantry. He also served overseas from June 15, 1918 until February 22, 1919, and was honorably discharged on March 31, 1919.

In 1921 John B. Cade returned to Atlanta University to complete the work for his A.B. degree.

Cade began his teaching career at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. From February, 1921-1929 he served as instructor of Social Studies and Foreign Languages. He also served as Registrar of Paine College from 1922-1929. It was there that he met and married Jessie Mae Maben on June 4, 1923. A daughter, Jessie Lola Cade, was born to the union, but later died.

In 1928 John Brother Cade was awarded a Masters’ Degree in History from the University of Chicago. It was in 1929 that he came to Southern University to become the first principal and instructor of Southern University Laboratory School.

Cade wrote a book about his military service experiences entitled: Twenty-Two Months With Uncle Sam, Robinson Cofer Co., Atlanta, Georgia, 1929.

From 1929-1930 Cade was the Registrar at Southern University; he also held the position of Director of Teacher Training in 1930-1931. Interrupting his tenure at Southern University in 1931, Cade moved to Prairie View College in Texas as registrar and director of the division of Liberal Arts and Sciences, a post he held until 1939. It was during this period that the Cades gave birth to a son- John Brother Cade, Jr.

In 1939 Cade and his family returned to Southern University. He served as University Dean and Director of Extension Services. These positions he held until 1955 when he was appointed Dean of the University. From that date until his retirement; June 30, 1961 he was loved and known by all as “Dean.” While at Southern he wrote three more books: By Their Fruits. Baton Rouge, Southern University Press, 1962; Holsey: The Incomparable. New York, Pageant Press, 1964 and A Man Christened Josiah Clark. New York, American Press, 1966.

Dean Cade retired from Southern University on June 30, 1961. Though he retired from active duty, the influence of the Dean remained on the campus by establishing the Archives of Black Louisiana History on the campus of Southern University.

Cade was listed in “Who’s Who In Colored America,” 1938-1940, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Post 502 of the American Legion.

John Brother Cade long and useful life came to an end at the age of 75 on January 31, 1970. The university Library was officially named, John Brother Cade Library at the dedication of the new library building on October 8, 1987.

Currently, his survivors include a son, John Brother Cade, Jr.; one grandson, James Kenneth Washington; two granddaughters, Jeanne Cherise Cade Story and Patti Michelle Cade Jones; and one great-grandson, Alfred Marvin Jones, Jr. Other family members include two sisters, Mrs. Lola I. Gabriel, Augusta, Ga., and Mrs. Lee Wilkes, Baltimore, Md., a brother, Luther A. Cade, Chicago, Ill.