Wallace Aaron Battle (1872 – 1946) was an educational leader for African Americans in the Southern United States. He grew up on a cotton farm in Alabama with the other 12 children of Augustus and Jeanetta (Redden) Battle, freed slaves. Battle graduated from Berea College, Berea, Ky. in 1901. He helped found Okolona College in 1902, also known as Okolona Industrial School, and Okolona Normal & Industrial School. The diary he kept provides a source for his life's work. Early life and education Battle was educated at Talladega College, Talladega, Ala., 1889-98 and graduated from Berea College with a Master's Degree in 1909. He received a honorary doctorate from Berea College, in 1933. Career Mr. Battle resigned from the presidency of the Okolona in 1927 to become Field Secretary of the American Church Institute of the Episcopal Church. In this position, among other duties, he assisted in supervising nine schools and colleges fostered by the Episcopal Church in eight Southern States. Personal life Battle married Effie Dean Threat on Sept 9, 1903 and had four children. References 1872 births 1946 deaths Educators from Alabama People from Okolona, Mississippi Berea College alumni African-American educators University and college founders 20th-century African-American people