Benjamin Arthur Quarles was a prominent historian, administrator, scholar, educator, and writer. Quarles is the author of The Negro in the Civil War, The Negro in the American Revolution, Lincoln and the Negro, and Black Abolitionists.

Quarles was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father Arthur Benedict Quarles was a subway porter and his mother was Margaret O’Brien. Benjamin went to local public schools. While in his twenties, Quarles enrolled at Shaw University (HBCU) in Raleigh, NC, where he obtained a B.A. degree in 1931. He later earned his M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1933 and a Ph.D. in 1940.

He returned to Shaw, working as an instructor of history (1935–39); then he went to Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana (1939–1953), where he became a full professor and served as dean; and last, he served as professor of history and chair of department at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland (1953–1974).

later returned to Shaw, where he worked as an instructor of history (1935–39); then he went to Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana (1939–1953), where he became a full professor and served as dean. Lastly, he served as professor of history and chair of the department at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland (1953–1974). At Morgan, Quarles reached near-legendary status as the long-time head of the History Department, a revered teacher, and counselor. Quarles died in 1996 of a heart attack at the age of 92.

sources:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-blackhistory-storygallery.html?page=3