R.H. Boyd is a historic and innovative publishing, printing, and media company based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a legacy of producing high-quality, culturally relevant literature and media since 1896. It has been family-operated since its inception, and it is currently under its fifth-generation leader, Dr. LaDonna Boyd.
The company specializes in educational materials, books, faith-based content, events, and resources that celebrate and preserve Black culture and heritage. Committed to empowering communities through knowledge and inspiration, R.H. Boyd continues to embrace modern technology and address contemporary issues while maintaining its role as a trusted leader in the publishing industry.
Untitled Document
A Timeline of Our History
1843
Birth of Richard Henry Boyd in Mississippi as a slave
1861-1865
Civil War
1865-1870
After the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves, Dick Gray moved to Texas as a freedman. He changed his name to Richard Henry “R. H.” Boyd in order to free himself of his slave master’s name. R.H. Boyd helped to organize the Texas Negro Baptist Convention. He also organized and served as pastor to several churches in Texas.
1870s
R. H. Boyd attended Bishop College in Marshall, Texas and worked tirelessly to organize churches and freedmen Baptists across Texas.
1875
R. H. Boyd and others organized the Lincoln District Baptist Association of Navasota and the Western Baptist State Convention.
1879
R. H. Boyd served as a district missionary and became Educational Secretary of the Texas Negro Baptist Convention and a moderator for the Central Baptist Association.
1896
R. H. Boyd founded the National Baptist Publishing Board (NBPB), now known as R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation (RHBPC), in Nashville, TN.
1904
R. H. Boyd founded Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Company
1906
R. H. Boyd founded the National Baptist Congress Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress, now known as the National Baptist Congress.
1912
Dr. Henry Allen Boyd was among the influential business leaders responsible for locating Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State Normal College for Negroes, now known as Tennessee State University, in Nashville. The university presently remains in Nashville, TN.
1922
Death of Rev. Dr. R. H. Boyd. His son, Dr. Henry Allen Boyd (1876-1959) became the second generation to lead the company. He implemented new operational procedures and the company continued to flourish.
1929-1939
The Great Depression
1934
NBPB was servicing twenty thousand Sunday schools and eight thousand churches. It published more than twenty different hymnals and music books, a broad variety of Christian education materials, church supplies, and doctrinal resources for ministers and Christian workers.
1939-1945
World War II
1955
Dr. T. B. Boyd, Jr. (1917-1979) followed in his uncle’s footsteps by becoming a member of the company’s board of directors. After returning from military service in the United States Army in the mid-1940’s, T. B. Boyd, Jr. began his career with the company as a linotype operator in the composing room and became the understudy to Dr. Henry Allen Boyd.
1959
Death of Henry Allen Boyd. Dr. T. B. Boyd Jr. became President/CEO.
1960s
The publishing company was a leader in the forefront of the national civil rights and social agenda, giving strong support to the National Baptist Convention of America, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights Movement.
1974
NBPB relocated to current location on Centennial Blvd.
1979
Dr T. B. Boyd, Jr. and his wife Mabel L. Boyd were involved in the community and were partners in marriage and ministry. He served the company to the fullest of his ability until his untimely passing in 1979. The board of directors appointed Dr. T. B. Boyd III as President and Chief Executive Officer. He became the youngest executive to hold the position in the 80-year history of the company. A year earlier he had been elected to the Board of Directors of the Citizens Savings and Trust Company Bank. He became chairman of the board in 1982.
1996
NBPB reaches its centennial anniversary
2000
NBPB becomes known as the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation. “We are very excited about this new and exciting publishing venture. The fact that we are paying homage to a man whose life and ministry created such positive impact in lives and communities across America, the Caribbean islands, and the Panama Canal alone, for over 100 years is befitting honor,” said Dr. T. B. Boyd III.
2006
National Baptist Congress reaches its centennial anniversary.
2007-2009
“Great Recession”
2008
President Barack H. Obama is elected as the first African-American President of the United States of America.
2012
R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation begins distributing eBooks worldwide through distributors such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and many others.
2013
Technological upgrades and launch of new e-commerce platform.
2015
The R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation’s Board of Directors unanimously voted Ms. LaDonna Boyd to serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation.
2017
Dr. T. B. Boyd III announced his retirement and transition to Chairman Emeritus status in October 2017. Ms. LaDonna Boyd is named as the President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation. Ms. Boyd carries on the legacy of the corporation, founded in 1896, for its fifth generation of being the leader in providing Christian and inspirational resources for African-American churches and communities across the country. Read More.
