Monthly Genealogy Day with Speaker Dr. Donald Shaffer

Dr. Donald Shaffer will offer a presentation on Dr. Hezekiah B. Hankal: physician, preacher, educator and civic leader. Shaffer taught German and Bible at Milligan University for 31 years until his retirement. Around 1990, he developed a keen interest in Black history, as well as in the peoples of Africa and their histories. These interests led to extensive research into the work of Dr. Hezekiah B. Hankal in organizing Black churches and in developing Johnson City’s first Colored School, efforts that eventuated the establishment of Langston High School. Shaffer visited Nigeria and Kenya and lived in South Africa for a year studying the history of Africa. He also worked with the late Dr. Mary Henderson Alexander gathering information on the history of African Americans in Washington County, Tennessee. He hopes to complete a book on that subject which the two of them were working on before her death. He also is working on his current manuscript on Dr. Hezekiah B. Hankal into a new book. For more information on this event, please email info@jgstn.org.