Charles Henry Turner (1867-1923)

Who was Charles Turner? by Duane M. Jackson Department of Psychology, Morehouse College, Atlanta GA

Charles Turner was one of the very first African-American researchers in animal behavior. He published over 50 papers in the areas of physiology, invertebrate ecology and morphology, but is most famous for his work in animal behavior.

Among other things, Turner was the first to demonstrate that insects could hear (see references 1914). Turner also did considerable research on trial-and-error learning by insects. He developed complex apparati (see below) to demonstrate that ants use light in addition to scent trails to get back to their nest and to show that surface-feeding caterpillars use trial-and-error learning rather than tropisms in locomotion.

Charles Turner was the first African-American to publish in the Journal of Animal Behavior, and probably the first to publish in Science (1892, although this is difficult to document). Turner was an elected member of the St. Louis Academy of Science (1911) and a delegate at the Seventh International Zoological Congess (1907).

Turner felt that the key to stopping racism was education, but that education was not enough. In 1902, he stated: "The white trash and the vagrant Negro form a wedge separating the New Southerner and the New Negro so completely that they cannot know each other."

Charles Turner was able to beat the odds. He was able to make major contributions in the field of animal behavior despite the fact that he had to deal with racism, isolation and limited resources. By naming an undergraduate poster session at the annual meetings after him, the Animal Behavior Society emphasizes its goal to increase the diversity of its membership by encouraging researchers of all ages, levels, and ethnic groups to participate in its annual meetings. Through this and other efforts, we also hope that Turner will take his rightful place in history.

• Born 2.3.1867, Cincinnati Ohio
• B.S. 1891, M.S. 1892, Univ.of Cincinnati
• 1891-92, Assistant in Biology, Univ. Cincinnati
• 1892-1905, Head of Science Dept. & Prof. of Biology at Clark Univ. in Atlanta, GA (now known as Clark-Atlanta Univ.)
• 1905-06, Principal College Hill School, Cleveland, Tennessee
• 1906-07 Grad Student University of Chicago
• 1907 Ph.D. University of Chicago
• 1907-08 Instructor in Biology & Chemistry, Haines Normal College
• 1908-23 Instructor in biology at summer High School of St. Louis
• Died 2.14.23 at age of 56

Ask a question about the Turner Program (via email to Dr. Emília Martins). Apply to participate in the Turner Program Learn more about: Charles Turner from Dr. Duane Jackson's "Who Was Charles Turner?" poster Abstract of Don Dewsbury's ABS meeting talk. "Bug Watching with Charles Henry Turner" (a children's book) the Animal Behavior Society and how/why to become a member 2006 annual meeting at Snowbird, Utah (August 12-16) Careers and graduate studies in animal behavior The Turner Program is managed by the Animal Behavior Society Diversity Committee with the help of the Indiana University Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior and with generous funding by the National Science Foundation and private donors. Please contact us if you would like to make a donation!