Littleton Mitchell
Tuskegee Airman and NAACP Delaware Chapter President, Littleton Purnell Mitchell
was born in the 1920s in Milford, Delaware. His advocacy began at age thirteen, when
he joined the NAACP. During the late 1930s, he attended Howard High School, the
state's only high school for African Americans. Upon graduation, he spent two years
at West Chester University of Pennsylvania on a track scholarship before joining the
Tuskegee Airmen during War World II. Witnessing the building of the airfield at
Tuskegee in 1941, he became an instrument flying instructor. His duties sent him to
the Link Trainer Facilities and Schools in New York, and Chanute Field, as well as the
Base Instrument Command Flying School in Texas. In February 1946, he was
discharged from the U.S. Army. Encouraged by his fellow Airmen, Mitchell returned
to college, and earned his degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, after
which, he began a career in the psychiatric treatment of children and in civil rights
advocacy.
Mitchell led the Delaware State Branches of the NAACP as president for over thirty
years until 1991. During his years as president, he led the efforts to secure fair
housing, equal access to public accommodations, and equal education and
employment opportunities for Delaware's African American community. He became
the first African American teacher of white children at Governor Bacon Health Center
in Delaware City. He retired from his post as teacher in 1984. His wife, Jane Mitchell,
now deceased became one of Delaware's first African American nurses. For many
years, she served as the director of nursing at the Delaware State Hospital and along
with her husband led efforts to desegregate the state's hospitals.
Mitchell served on the Delaware Humanities Council from 1991 to 1997. And in 1993,
the University of Delaware awarded Mitchell its Medal of Merit for sustained
community service. He was also awarded the Delaware Bar Association's 2004 Liberty
Bell Award for community service. For the Brown v. Board of Education 50th
Anniversary Commission, he served as a presidential appointee representing Delaware.
Tuskegee Airman and NAACP Delaware Chapter President, Littleton Purnell Mitchell
was born in the 1920s in Milford, Delaware. His advocacy began at age thirteen, when
he joined the NAACP. During the late 1930s, he attended Howard High School, the
state's only high school for African Americans. Upon graduation, he spent two years
at West Chester University of Pennsylvania on a track scholarship before joining the
Tuskegee Airmen during War World II. Witnessing the building of the airfield at
Tuskegee in 1941, he became an instrument flying instructor. His duties sent him to
the Link Trainer Facilities and Schools in New York, and Chanute Field, as well as the
Base Instrument Command Flying School in Texas. In February 1946, he was
discharged from the U.S. Army. Encouraged by his fellow Airmen, Mitchell returned
to college, and earned his degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, after
which, he began a career in the psychiatric treatment of children and in civil rights
advocacy.
Mitchell led the Delaware State Branches of the NAACP as president for over thirty
years until 1991. During his years as president, he led the efforts to secure fair
housing, equal access to public accommodations, and equal education and
employment opportunities for Delaware's African American community. He became
the first African American teacher of white children at Governor Bacon Health Center
in Delaware City. He retired from his post as teacher in 1984. His wife, Jane Mitchell,
now deceased became one of Delaware's first African American nurses. For many
years, she served as the director of nursing at the Delaware State Hospital and along
with her husband led efforts to desegregate the state's hospitals.
Mitchell served on the Delaware Humanities Council from 1991 to 1997. And in 1993,
the University of Delaware awarded Mitchell its Medal of Merit for sustained
community service. He was also awarded the Delaware Bar Association's 2004 Liberty
Bell Award for community service. For the Brown v. Board of Education 50th
Anniversary Commission, he served as a presidential appointee representing Delaware.
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