Earning a doctorate is no mean feat. It usually takes between five and eight years to reach this level of academic expertise.
But for Irene Bishop Goggans, the process actually took closer to 90 years, and it came as something of a shock. Despite conducting decades of tireless research, she had never enrolled in any PhD program to pursue recognition for her work.
“I was speechless,” says Goggans, “I had no idea, no idea where any of this was coming from.”
Like fellow life-long learner Pearl Thompson, the research that filled dozens of scrapbooks in her home was a labor of love, rather than a case of publish or perish. She spent years collecting clippings from magazines and newspapers, chronicling the stories of fellow African-Americans into a series of ‘Heritage Books.’
Her collection of binders is a thorough history of the past 7-odd decades of African-American achievement. She’s preserved countless stories she admires, “maybe not knowing the people, but being so proud of the accomplishments.”
One notable honoree in her collection is Barack Obama. The commander in chief takes up five volumes all by himself in Ms. Goggan’s prodigious collection.
In the process of collecting these stories, Ms. Goggans simultaneously created a valuable historical archive. Her library preserves much of the past century in American history.
For her incredible life-long effort, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee presented her with an honorary PhD of Community History. Ms. Goggans accepted with pleasure — but not for her own sake—saying:
“I will only accept this doctorate if I can accept it for each and every one of you…The wonderful people who have made all of these wonderful contributions.”
If you were amazed by this woman’s lifelong dedication to her community, please SHARE on Facebook!
