Those We Lost — August 10

Honoring those we lost on August 10 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

Thomas Elkins

Born c. 1818 — died Aug 10, 1900

Dentist, physician, pharmacist, abolitionist, Underground Railroad worker, and inventor.

Elkins practiced medicine and dentistry in Albany while aiding freedom seekers through the Underground Railroad and serving with the local Vigilance Committee. His patents for improved refrigeration, a chamber commode, and household furniture reflected a practical commitment to health and daily life.

Irene Morgan Kirkaldy

Birth name: Irene Amos

Born Apr 9, 1917 — died Aug 10, 2007

Civil rights activist whose resistance led to the landmark Morgan v. Virginia decision.

In 1944, Morgan refused to surrender her seat on an interstate bus in Virginia and was arrested. Her legal challenge reached the United States Supreme Court, whose 1946 ruling struck down state laws requiring segregation on interstate transportation and helped prepare the way for the Freedom Rides.

Isaac Hayes

Full name: Isaac Lee Hayes Jr.

Born Aug 20, 1942 — died Aug 10, 2008

Singer, songwriter, composer, producer, actor, and soul music innovator.

Hayes helped shape the Stax sound as a songwriter and producer before redefining the soul album through Hot Buttered Soul. His score for Shaft made him the first Black composer to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song and expanded the possibilities of Black film music.

Wear the history: Isaac Hayes — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.