Robert L. Brokenburr made history in 1940 by becoming the first African-American elected to the Indiana Senate.

He was an active legislator, especially in the area of civil rights, and the laws.

A close acquaintance of Madame C.J. Walker, the African-American cosmetics entrepreneur widely held as the country’s first female millionaire Brokenburr served as general counsel of the Walker Manufacturing Company.

Brokenburr’s civil rights work included establishment of fair employment practices, improving voter registration and election participation among minorities by establishing an impartial voter registration board, and improving opportunities for African-Americans serving in the Indiana National Guard.

He culminated his legislative career by authoring civil rights laws that were passed in 1961 and 1963, afterwards living in retirement until his death in Indianapolis.