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ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY:June 18, 1912 African-American Robert Church, founder of Lincoln Leagues to register black voters in Tennessee, attends 1912 Republican National Convention as delegate; eventually serves as delegate at 8 conventions In the early 20th century, Church recognized the political power of Black voters in Tennessee. In 1912, he attended the Republican National Convention as a delegate, representing Black interests in the party. He later served as delegate at eight Republican National Conventions, becoming a key political figure for African Americans in the South. Church’s political activism led to the founding of the Lincoln Leagues. The first Lincoln League was established in Memphis in 1916 by Robert R. Church Jr., his son, to organize Black Republicans and mobilize African American voters. The League’s mission was to secure recognition from white Republican leaders for Black political support, to educate voters, collect poll taxes, and nominate candidates for state and national offices Tennessee Encyclopedia. It became a model for similar leagues across the South and contributed to the modern Civil https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/lincol