BlackPast.org Announces with Profound Sadness the Passing of Founder Dr. Quintard Taylor

BlackPast.org Announces with Profound

Sadness the Passing of Founder

Dr. Quintard Taylor

SEATTLE, WA – It is with deep sorrow that BlackPast.org announces the passing of its founder, Dr. Quintard Taylor, who died peacefully on September 21, 2025, at the age of 77 in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Taylor was a renowned historian and educator, respected author, a Fulbright Scholar, and the visionary behind BlackPast, a nonprofit he founded in 2007 to freely publish accessible research on Black history. It has evolved into the world's largest online encyclopedia for Black history. Under his leadership, BlackPast has engaged over 64 million site users since its founding. Dr. Taylor crafted the nonprofit’s long-term vision to be an ungated and accurate resource on African American and global African history, maintaining a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and intergenerational engagement. His stalwart commitment to the preservation of Black stories was unparalleled.

He was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, earned a B.A. in history at St. Augustine College, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from the University of Minnesota. As a college professor for nearly fifty years, he left an indelible mark on education and community empowerment. Dr. Taylor served as a history professor at California Polytechnic State University from 1977 to 1990 and the University of Oregon from 1990 to 1999 before becoming the Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor of American History at the University of Washington from 1999 to 2018, influencing generations of historians. A prolific writer about the history of African Americans in the American West, Dr. Taylor was author of numerous books, including the Pulitzer Prize nominated book In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West, 1528-1990 (1998) and The Forging of a Black Community: A History of Seattle's Central District, 1870 through the Civil Rights Era (1994). He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Historians Guild and the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award from the National Education Association and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

“I want to thank Quintard for his extraordinary contributions to the study of history, for founding BlackPast.org, and for creating a lasting legacy that will continue to educate, inspire, and guide future generations. His work will live on in the minds of those who have learned from him and will continue to light the way for those who seek a better understanding of the world,” noted BlackPast board president Douglas Bender. “Personally, I’m forever grateful that he was my brother and my friend…and allowed me the incredible opportunity to share in the work that lifted his vision. It has been a joy…and it is not done.”

One of Dr. Taylor's former doctoral students, Dr. Quin'Nita Cobbins-Modica, worked closely with him for the past 13 years, including as a past Executive Director of the organization. She now serves as vice president of the BlackPast.org board of directors and an Assistant Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She said, “This is a profound and deeply personal loss for me and for the entire BlackPast team. Dr. Taylor was more than a mentor and advisor, but also a dear friend and unwavering champion of my work. For more than a decade, I walked alongside him as he built BlackPast from a few entries into the largest and most reputable global digital resource on African American and African diasporic history. He entrusted me with his life’s work and supported my leadership across the organization, often leaning on my insights and counsel as we advanced BP’s mission together. His impact and legacy are immeasurable. I, along with everyone at BP, are committed to honoring this sacred trust of carrying forward Dr. Taylor’s vision to ensure that Black history remains accessible for generations to come.”

BlackPast.org extends its heartfelt condolences to Dr. Taylor's family and loved ones during this difficult time. His legacy of excellence, accuracy, and inclusion will continue to guide our work, especially in this time when preserving Black history amid attempted erasure is as essential as ever.

Visit www.BlackPast.org to learn more about Dr. Taylor or how to support the organization. Information regarding a memorial service will be shared at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BlackPast.org.

About BlackPast.org

BlackPast.org is a nonprofit organization committed to providing comprehensive, reliable, and accessible information on African American history and the history of people of African ancestry globally. With more than 8,000 entries contributed by nearly 1,000 scholars, educators, and community members, BlackPast.org is one of the leading digital platforms for Black historical education worldwide.