Tom Hunt (1879–1942): UC Berkeley Professor Who Passed as White

Tom Hunt and grave marker

Plot 45

Tom Hunt was a professor of agriculture at the University of California, Berkeley, whose story intersects with both scientific achievement and the painful realities of race in early 20th-century America.

Born in Tennessee to a family of African American descent, Hunt was light-skinned enough to pass as white. In a deeply segregated society that systematically denied Black Americans access to education and professional advancement, he made the difficult and ultimately isolating decision to conceal his racial background. Doing so enabled him to pursue a successful academic career otherwise unavailable to him.

UC Berkeley College of Agriculture circa 1912

After earning advanced degrees in agricultural science, Hunt joined UC Berkeley's College of Agriculture, where he rose to the rank of associate professor. His primary area of expertise was plant pathology, with a particular focus on the effects of mold and fungi on crops, including tomatoes and citrus — vital agricultural sectors in California. Hunt conducted groundbreaking studies on Phytophthora species and stem-end rot, helping farmers understand and mitigate devastating plant diseases. He published extensively in scientific journals, and his work was noted for its rigor and practical applications. His research contributed significantly to the growing body of agricultural knowledge that supported California’s emergence as an agricultural powerhouse.

Despite his professional accomplishments, Hunt remained socially isolated, avoiding public recognition that might expose his background. He died in 1942 with few knowing the full truth of his heritage. In later years, his story became a striking example of the costs of racial passing and the hidden contributions of African Americans to American academic and scientific life.

Sources:

• Burzell, R. M. A Curious Career: The Life and Work of Tom Hunt, California Historical Society Quarterly (1958)

• Kelley, Robin D.G. Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class (Free Press, 1994)

• Pascoe, Peggy. What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America (Oxford University Press, 2009)

• UC Berkeley Archives, Agricultural Experiment Station Reports, 1910–1940

• California Digital Newspaper Collection (cdnc.ucr.edu)