Charles Henry Parrish, Jr. was born on January 12, 1899, in Louisville, KY. A graduate of historic Central High School in 1916, Parrish went on to attend Howard University, receiving his A.B. degree in 1920 with honors, his MA from Columbia University in 1921, and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1944. Dr. Parrish began his career at Simmons College, teaching from 1921 to 1931. He joined the faculty of Louisville Municipal College in 1931 as a professor of sociology and education until its merger with the University of Louisville in 1950. Joining its faculty, Dr. Parrish became the first African American faculty member at the University of Louisville, where he taught until his retirement in 1969. In 1959, he was promoted to chairman of the Department of Sociology at the University of Louisville, a first for African Americans. Post-retirement, he served as interim chair of Sociology at Dillard University for the 1972-73 academic year. Dr. Parrish was initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity through Alpha Chapter in 1917. He was a charter member of Theta Omega Chapter in Louisville, serving in various leadership positions for over thirty years. He was married to the former Frances Elizabeth Morrell in 1938 until his death on July 15, 1989.
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