W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963). Scholar, sociologist, poet, novelist, essayist. Class of 1888. Founder and editor of Crisis and Phylon. Authored the American classic, The Souls of Black Folk (1903).
William L. Dawson (1886-1970). Congressman. Class of 1909. Won a seat in the U. S. 78th Congress, representing the First Congressional District of Illinois.