He was frequently involved in Emancipation Day activities . He was a lifelong Republican and in 1884 was nominated to be delegate-at-large from Michigan to the Republican National Convention . But , only one black man was to be selected and the honor went to Detroit city councilman Samuel C. Watson . and was the first president of the Michigan Protective League formed in 1888 . With the support of the league , Atwood campaigned for presidential candidate William Henry Harrison and served as a Michigan delegate-at-large at the 1888 Republican National Convention in Chicago . The next year , the league put Atwood 's name forward for the post of Washington , DC Recorder of Deeds . In 1890 , Atwood was again a delegate at a national convention of colored men meeting , this time , in Washington , DC and in 1895 in Detroit , Michigan
Republican National Convention
1884 Republican National Convention
William Q. Atwood