Elijah Cook

{{short description|American politician}}

Elijah Cook (born c. 1835) was an American community leader, organizer of schools, and legislator from Montgomery, Alabama. A formerly enslaved person, he helped establish Montgomery's first school for African Americans in 1865 after the American Civil War. Chose the site for Swayne College in 1868. He also helped bring Lincoln Normal School, predecessor of Alabama State University, to Montgomery from Marion, Alabama.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fieldtripper.com/c/N93t1nthKvs/|title=Field Trip - Elijah Cook / City of Montgomery v. Rosa Parks|website=www.fieldtripper.com}} The New York Public Library has a photograph of his home, business, Cook, and his wife from a book published by Chicago publisher Hertel, Jenkins & Co.{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47dd-f3d4-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99|title=Elijah Cook's residence.; Elijah Cook. Undertaker, Montgomery, Ala.; Place of Business.; Mrs. Elijah Cook.|website=NYPL Digital Collections}}

Cook was born in Wetumpka.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al.com/montgomery/2011/09/rosa_parks_elijah_cook_commemo.html|title=Acts of Rosa Parks, Elijah Cook recognized on new marker across from Montgomery City Hall (video)|date=September 30, 2011|website=al}} He served in Alabama's General Assembly representing Montgomery County in 1875.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vGJBAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22elijah+cook%22+representative&pg=PA646|title=Journal|first=Alabama Legislature|last=Senate|date=June 3, 1875|publisher=etc.|via=Google Books}}