Meet the New President

Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British.

Ann Dunham, Barack's mother, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii.

It was there, at the University of Hawaii, where Barack's parents met. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams in America. Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.

 

Books Many books have been written by and about Barack Obama. Look at this booklist to see what the Pratt Library has, or search the online catalog for other books related to politics, African American history, or anything else you may be interested in.

 

Timeline

2009

January 20: Inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America.

2008

December 17: Time Magazine Person of the Year 2008

November 4: Barack Obama (CC '83) becomes the first Columbia University graduate elected president of the United States.

November 4: Elected first African-American President of the United States

August 23: Selects Joe Biden as running mate

June 3: Wins the Democratic nomination, defeating Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton. Obama is the first African American to win a major party's nomination for the Presidency. 

March 18: Gives speech on race 

2007

January 16: Announces intent to run for President

2006

October 17: The Audacity of Hope published

2004

July 27: Gave keynote address at Democratic National Convention

November 2: Elected to U.S. Senate 

2002

Re-elected to Illinois State Senate (uncontested)

2001

Daughter Sasha (full name Natasha) born

2000

Re-elected to Illinois State Senate

1999

Daughter Malia born 

1998

Re-elected to Illinois State Senate

1996

Elected to Illinois State Senate. Look at Obama's Illinois voting record. 

1995

November 7: Obama’s mother passes away. 

Dreams from My Father published

1992

October 18: Marries Michelle Robinson  

Illinois Executive Director of Project Vote

1991

Earns law degree from Harvard

1990

February 6: Elected president of Harvard Law Review

1988

Begins at Harvard Law School

1985

Moves to Chicago. Directs Developing Communities Project for 3 years

Read Obama’s own words on Community Organizing:

1983

Graduates from Columbia University (Columbia College), with a major in Political Science

1981

Transfers to Columbia University 

1979-1981

Two years at Occidental College 

1979

Graduates High School

1961

August 4: Born  in Honolulu, HI.  

Ask Us

If you have any questions about Barack Obama, please e-mail us, call at (410) 361-9287, or contact us by mail:

African American Department
Enoch Pratt Free Library
State Library Resource Center
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201