Henry Kirklin

File:Henry Kirklin with child in garden.jpg

Henry Kirklin was an horticulturist, businessman, and first African-American instructor at the University of Missouri. He achieved international fame for horticulture and was described by the Columbia Missourian as "one of the best-known plant authorities of his era".{{cite news|url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/from-slave-to-renowned-horticulturalist-henry-kirklin-gets-long-overdue-recognition/article_cc07d2da-1f0e-11eb-bbc2-870a0db7e47c.html|title=From slave to renowned horticulturalist: Henry Kirklin gets long-overdue recognition|last=Hofbauef|first=Drew|work=Columbia Missourian|date=November 7, 2020|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=July 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702042347/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/from-slave-to-renowned-horticulturalist-henry-kirklin-gets-long-overdue-recognition/article_cc07d2da-1f0e-11eb-bbc2-870a0db7e47c.html|url-status=live}} Freed from slavery at the age of five, Kirklin would learn horticulture from German immigrants. At age fourteen he became greenhouse supervisor at the University of Missouri; his ability was quickly recognized and he soon began instructing classes. He taught both at his home garden and on the steps of the university greenhouse, as at the time the university was segregated. He was officially recognized as the school's first black instructor by President Mun Choi with the dedication of the Henry Kirklin Plant Sciences Learning Laboratory in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/lab-is-named-for-henry-kirklin-at-last-mus-official-first-black-instructor/article_ae02a568-76ec-11eb-b0bb-0bee867ee278.html|title=Lab is named for Henry Kirklin, at last MU's 'official first Black instructor'|last=Moscovitch|first=Jacob|work=Columbia Missourian|date=February 24, 2021|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628173916/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/lab-is-named-for-henry-kirklin-at-last-mus-official-first-black-instructor/article_ae02a568-76ec-11eb-b0bb-0bee867ee278.html|url-status=live}} He has also been honored with a marker on Columbia's African American Heritage Trail, which stands near his former home and garden.{{cite web|url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/these-stories-need-to-be-told-new-african-american-heritage-trail-markers-unveiled/article_dbc322ec-f06b-11e9-9829-53fffc0caf74.html|title='These stories need to be told': New African American Heritage Trail markers unveiled|last=Skipworth|first=William|work=Columbia Missourian|date=October 16, 2019|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628173918/https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/these-stories-need-to-be-told-new-african-american-heritage-trail-markers-unveiled/article_dbc322ec-f06b-11e9-9829-53fffc0caf74.html|url-status=live}} He died in 1938 and is buried in Columbia Cemetery; his grave remained unmarked for eighty-two years until a campaign to fund a grave marker in 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/82-years-later-local-groups-honor-henry-kirklin-with-marked-gravesite/article_fce2c772-1fde-11eb-90ef-f7753f87e2ef.html|title=82 years later, local groups honor Henry Kirklin with marked gravesite|work=KOMU|last=Schoenig|first=Elyse|date=November 6, 2020|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=June 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628173917/https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/82-years-later-local-groups-honor-henry-kirklin-with-marked-gravesite/article_fce2c772-1fde-11eb-90ef-f7753f87e2ef.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://comomag.com/2020/10/30/a-gem-of-history/|title=A Gem of History|work=CoMoMag|last=Jainchill|first=Jessica|date=October 30, 2020|accessdate=June 28, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225170216/https://comomag.com/2020/10/30/a-gem-of-history/|url-status=live}}