United States Congressman.
McKenney received undergraduate and law degrees from the University Of Virginia, and began his law practice in Petersburg in 1876. He married Clara J. Pickrell in 1878. After serving as President of the Petersburg City Council for several years, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892, he claimed victory in a four-person race in 1894 to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. However, he left office in 1896 when the second place finisher, Thomas T. Thorp, successfully contested the election and succeeded him.
In 1923, his wife Clara deeded land to the city of Petersburg to build a public library that would serve as a memorial to McKenney; it was required to be strictly segregated by race. In early 1960, the still-segregated library was the site of civil rights protests at which several prominent Black leaders and many college and high school students were arrested. McKenney's daughter, Virginia McKenney Claiborne, urged that the library be de-segregated and it soon became the first integrated public building in Petersburg.
McKenney received undergraduate and law degrees from the University Of Virginia, and began his law practice in Petersburg in 1876. He married Clara J. Pickrell in 1878. After serving as President of the Petersburg City Council for several years, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892, he claimed victory in a four-person race in 1894 to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. However, he left office in 1896 when the second place finisher, Thomas T. Thorp, successfully contested the election and succeeded him.
In 1923, his wife Clara deeded land to the city of Petersburg to build a public library that would serve as a memorial to McKenney; it was required to be strictly segregated by race. In early 1960, the still-segregated library was the site of civil rights protests at which several prominent Black leaders and many college and high school students were arrested. McKenney's daughter, Virginia McKenney Claiborne, urged that the library be de-segregated and it soon became the first integrated public building in Petersburg.
United States Congressman.
McKenney received undergraduate and law degrees from the University Of Virginia, and began his law practice in Petersburg in 1876. He married Clara J. Pickrell in 1878. After serving as President of the Petersburg City Council for several years, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892, he claimed victory in a four-person race in 1894 to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. However, he left office in 1896 when the second place finisher, Thomas T. Thorp, successfully contested the election and succeeded him.
In 1923, his wife Clara deeded land to the city of Petersburg to build a public library that would serve as a memorial to McKenney; it was required to be strictly segregated by race. In early 1960, the still-segregated library was the site of civil rights protests at which several prominent Black leaders and many college and high school students were arrested. McKenney's daughter, Virginia McKenney Claiborne, urged that the library be de-segregated and it soon became the first integrated public building in Petersburg.
McKenney received undergraduate and law degrees from the University Of Virginia, and began his law practice in Petersburg in 1876. He married Clara J. Pickrell in 1878. After serving as President of the Petersburg City Council for several years, and as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892, he claimed victory in a four-person race in 1894 to represent Virginia's 4th Congressional District. However, he left office in 1896 when the second place finisher, Thomas T. Thorp, successfully contested the election and succeeded him.
In 1923, his wife Clara deeded land to the city of Petersburg to build a public library that would serve as a memorial to McKenney; it was required to be strictly segregated by race. In early 1960, the still-segregated library was the site of civil rights protests at which several prominent Black leaders and many college and high school students were arrested. McKenney's daughter, Virginia McKenney Claiborne, urged that the library be de-segregated and it soon became the first integrated public building in Petersburg.
Bio by: Jeffry Burden
Family Members
Advertisement
See more McKenney memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
