Childhood and Education Journey of Clarence Thomas in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 1, 2026

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Clarence Thomas. From birth to education, explore key events.

Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991. Nominated by President George H.W. Bush, he succeeded Thurgood Marshall. Thomas is the second African American to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, after Marshall, and became its longest-serving justice after Anthony Kennedy's retirement in 2018.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1946: Birth of Sister Emma

In 1946, Clarence Thomas's older sister, Emma, was born.

January 1947: Leola Williams Marries M.C. Thomas

In January 1947, after becoming pregnant with Clarence Thomas's older sister, Leola Williams was ordered by her father to marry M.C. Thomas.

June 23, 1948: Clarence Thomas Born

On June 23, 1948, Clarence Thomas was born. He is an American lawyer and jurist who has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991.

Others born on this day/year

1949: Thomas Staffers Required to Watch The Fountainhead Film

Clarence Thomas required his staffers to watch the 1949 film version of Ayn Rand's novel, The Fountainhead.

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1949: Birth of Brother Myers

In 1949, Clarence Thomas's younger brother, Myers, was born.

March 1951: M.C. Thomas Divorces Leola Williams

In March 1951, M.C. Thomas sued for divorce, claiming that Leola neglected the children, and a judge granted the request.

1955: Moved in With Grandfather

In 1955, after his aunt's house burned down, Clarence Thomas and his brother moved in with his maternal grandfather, Myers Anderson.

1960: Racial Unrest in Savannah

From 1960 to 1963, Myers Anderson bailed out demonstrators and took Clarence Thomas to meetings promoted by the NAACP during racial unrest in Savannah.

1961: Library Desegregation

In 1961, prior to libraries being desegregated, Clarence Thomas spent many hours at the Carnegie Library, the only library for Blacks in Savannah.

1963: Racial Unrest in Savannah

From 1960 to 1963, Myers Anderson bailed out demonstrators and took Clarence Thomas to meetings promoted by the NAACP during racial unrest in Savannah.

1967: Entered Conception Seminary College

In 1967, Clarence Thomas entered Conception Seminary College in Missouri with the intention of becoming a priest. He left at the end of the semester after experiencing racism.

1968: Enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross

In 1968, Clarence Thomas enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross as a sophomore transfer student. He also co-founded the Black Student Union (BSU).

April 1970: Participation in Harvard Square Riots

In April 1970, Clarence Thomas participated in the violent 1970 Harvard Square riots.

June 4, 1971: Graduation from Holy Cross

On June 4, 1971, Clarence Thomas graduated cum laude from Holy Cross with a Bachelor of Arts, ranked ninth in his class. He was later accepted by Yale Law School.

1971: Graduation from the College of the Holy Cross

In 1971, Clarence Thomas graduated with honors from the College of the Holy Cross.

1971: Marriage to Kathy Grace Ambush

In 1971, Thomas married Kathy Grace Ambush.

1973: Birth of Son Jamal Adeen

In 1973, Jamal Adeen, Thomas's sole child, was born.

1974: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

In 1974, Clarence Thomas earned his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

1975: Thomas Influenced by Thomas Sowell's Race and Economics

In 1975, Clarence Thomas found an intellectual foundation for his philosophy in Thomas Sowell's "Race and Economics", which critiques social reform by the government.

1981: Separation from First Wife

In 1981, Thomas and his first wife separated.

1984: Divorce from First Wife

In 1984, Thomas divorced his first wife.

1987: Marriage to Virginia Lamp

In 1987, Thomas married Virginia Lamp.

1990: Member of College of the Holy Cross Board of Trustees

In 1990, Clarence Thomas was a member of the College of the Holy Cross board of trustees.

1997: Taking in Great-Nephew

In 1997, Thomas and his wife took in Thomas's six-year-old great-nephew, Mark Martin Jr.

1999: Motorcoach Travel Begins

Since 1999, Thomas and his wife have traveled across the U.S. in a motorcoach between Court terms.

2004: Member of College of the Holy Cross Board of Trustees

In 2004, Clarence Thomas was a member of the College of the Holy Cross board of trustees.

2006: Member of College of the Holy Cross Board of Trustees

In 2006, Clarence Thomas was a member of the College of the Holy Cross board of trustees.

2007: Memoir

In his 2007 memoir, Clarence Thomas wrote about his experience at Yale Law School and his disappointment with prospective law firms assuming he was accepted because of affirmative action. He mentioned peeling a fifteen-cent sticker off a package of cigars and sticking it on the frame of his law degree.

2012: Honorary Degree from College of the Holy Cross

In 2012, Clarence Thomas received an honorary degree from the College of the Holy Cross, his alma mater.

2021: Thomas One of Six Practicing Catholic Justices

In 2021, Clarence Thomas was noted as one of six practicing Catholic justices on the Supreme Court, alongside Alito, Kavanaugh, Roberts, Sotomayor, and Barrett.