Frank Horne: Author Page
Frank Smith Horne, born in 1899 in New York City, was an optometrist, college administrator, housing official, and poet. As the third of four sons to Edwin Fletcher Horne and Cora Calhoun Horne, he lived most of his childhood and early adulthood in Brooklyn. He acquired a Bachelor of Science from the City College of New York in 1921, where he wrote his first sonnet. In 1922, he received an optometry doctorate from Northern Illinois College of Ophthalmology. Horne furthered his academic journey with a Master’s degree from the University of Southern California in 1932.
Horne’s career spanned significant and different roles, including his tenure as Dean and acting president of Fort Valley Normal and Industrial School and his pivotal contributions to federal housing agencies such as the United States Housing Authority and the Housing and Home Finance Agency. A founding member of the National Committee Against Discrimination in Housing, Horne’s advocacy extended beyond administrative duties; he actively researched and fought against housing discrimination, leaving a lasting imprint on civil rights initiatives throughout the mid-20th century. His dedication to equity and justice was underscored further in events like the defense of civil rights figures and his leadership in New York City’s Commission on Intergroup Relations.
Horne’s poetic pursuits were award-winning (see “Letters Found Near a Suicide” and “To a Persistent Phantom”) and resonated with themes of racial identity, social justice, and the complexity of human emotions. Works like “Arabesque” juxtaposed scenes of racial violence with tender human connections, evoking empathy and provoking introspection in its readers. “Harlem” captures the vibrant spirit and challenges of urban life, while “Youth” celebrates the exuberance and potential of young adulthood. Horne published all of his poetry within a short period of time (1925-1928).
Works Cited
Carter, Nika B. “Horne, Frank S. (Frank Smith), 1899-1974.” Horne, Frank S. (Frank Smith), 1899-1974 | Amistad Research Center, https://amistad-finding-aids.tulane.edu/agents/people/123. Accessed 13 July 2024.