He demonstrated that blacks were active participants in major conflicts and issues of American history.
In his twenties, Quarles enrolled at Shaw University, the first historically black college in the South, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and received his B.A.
Initially he faced resistance for wanting to write Black history, but finally received support for his goal.
His last appointment was as professor of history and chair of the department at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland (1953–1974).
A prolific writer, Benjamin Quarles published 10 books, 23 articles, and hundreds of shorter pieces of various sorts.