Harvey Gantt papers

Harvey Bernard Gantt was born in Charleston, S.C. on January 14, 1943. He studied at the Iowa State University (1960-62) before transferring to Clemson University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1965. [Gantt integrated Clemson in 1963.] Gantt served as an intern for Charlotte's Odell Associates prior to entering graduate school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he received a Master of City Planning degree in 1970. [He also holds honorary degrees from Clemson, Belmont Abbey College, and Johnson C. Smith University.] Following his graduation from MIT, Gantt served as director of physical planning for Soul City, N.C. and as a visiting lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1971, he co-founded the Charlotte architectural firm of Gantt Huberman Architects. Gantt became a member, by appointment, of the Charlotte City Council in 1974 following Fred D. Alexander's election to the North Carolina General Assembly. Gantt was elected outright in 1975 and 1977. Gantt first ran for mayor in 1979, losing in the Democratic primary to Eddie Knox. Following another term on the council (1981-83) as mayor pro tem, Gantt was elected mayor of Charlotte in 1983 and re-elected in 1985. He lost to Republican challenger Sue Myrick in 1987. In 1990 and 1996 he ran against Jesse Helms for U.S. Senate. He lost both elections.