BLACK BALTIMORE A HISTORIC LEGACY

BLACK BALTIMORE

A HISTORIC LEGACY

There has been much written about Baltimore City and it's African American Communities over the past years. Much of if has been negative some positive . This is my tribute to those who came before me. Good and Bad. A work in progress for those who are yet to come.

Who was Everett WARING ? What about Isaac Myers or Alex Helmsley ? These names are not commonly discussed these days in Baltimore Schools as a historic figures. We have many prominent natives of Baltimore who are unsung for the most part not to slight the ones who are in the forefront. Let us not forget their struggle.

There are many scholars as well as researchers who are well versed in Baltimore's rich history. One in particular Agnes Kane Callum is often referred to as Baltimore's Premier African American Genealogist/Historian.

One of the most intregal parts of the African American Community no matter where it is located its the local Funeral Parlor. Take a look at Black Baltimores Selection here.

There were at least 120 commissioned officers in the Union Army who were African-Americans. The list is not completely in tact however but, there were at least 2 from Baltimore

4th USCT - Hunter, Chaplain William H.

39th USCT - Underdue, Chaplain James

To learn more about this group of valiant men. Go to the Mollus home page.

There are 3 Historic Black Colleges or Universities within the city limits of Baltimore. These institutions of higher learning are Morgan State , Coppin State and Sojourner Douglas .

For a look at a full color map of Baltimore City in 1895.

Baltimore is home to the Afro American Newspaper one of the oldest African American Newspapers continuously published in the United States

There are several African American enclaves within the City Limits Upton, Sandtown-Winchester, and Druid Heights to name a few.

The City of Monuments has erected many to it's African American contingency

A statue of Miss. Billy Holliday is located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue at Lanvale Street

A Frederick Douglass Bust is located in the foyer of Douglass Senior High School

The Frederick Douglass Statue is located on the campus of Morgan State University, Cold Spring Lane and Hillen Road

A Marker dedicated to Joshua Johnson who was the first black portrait painter whose works won public recognition in the United States is located @ the Morris A. Mechanic Theater at the intersection of Charles and Baltimore Streets.

A Statue of the Honorable Thurgood Marshall is located Pratt Street and Hopkins Place

A Black Soldiers Statue is located at the Baltimore Monument Plaza, Calvert and Lexington Streets

There are also Museums dedicated to Baltimore's African American Leaders and Heroes

The EUBIE BLAKE NATIONAL MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER- located at 34 Market Place. Baltimore-born jazz composer Eubie Blake is immortalized at this museum. 410-396-8128.

The GREAT BLACKS IN WAX MUSEUM- located at 1601 E. North Ave. 410-563-3404.

A History of Baltimore

If you are planning a visit to Baltimore we would like to reccomend Baltimore Black Heritage Tours Inc. They can accomadate large or samll groups. There are several Tours available. Their services include pre trip planning, hotel arrangements, transportation services, tour guides & chaperones, event planning, tour coordination and more.

Please contact Mr. L.C.Fields @ 410-783-5469 or you can page him @ 410-460-6222

You may contact them by mail : BBH Tours

P.O. Box 3014

Baltimore, Maryland

21229

There have been several books published on Baltimore's African American Communities and it's people spanning many decades.

Black Baltimore : a new theory of community by Harold A. McDougall. pub 1993

Freedom's port : the African American community of Baltimore, 1790-1860 by Christopher Phillips. pub 1997

Slavery Slaveholding and the free black population of Baltimore by Ralph Clayton.

Black Baltimore, 1820-1870 by Ralph Clayton.

Recreation and sport in the African-American community of Baltimore, 1890-1920 by James Roland Coates. pub 1991

Poor Black and in Real Trouble written by Jerome Dyson Wright is an awesome piece written in the first person. It covers some of Baltimores most troubled times the late 1950's and early 1960's. ISBN 0-87067-001-8 225 pub 1976

Baltimore was home to at least 2 Negro League Baseball teams the Baltimore Black Sox and the Baltimore Elite Giants

There have been several African American social clubs as well a benevolent societies. The Negro Democratic Club was located in the 1000 blk Druid Hill Avenue, The Knights of Pythias, The Arch Social Club currently located at the corner of Pennsylvania and North Avenues,

Arabbers have as long as most anyone alive today can recall been an intregal part of Baltimore's African American Community. These street merchants were often the only merchants who served unfailingly the African American Communities of Baltimore City. They are a throw back to an era long past but some are still out there on a hot summers day yelling What-a-Mellon in those familiar sing-song voices.

Baltimore is called home by many African Americans. No matter where we as Baltimoreans travel there is no place like Home! Once you have been here you will never forget the charm and charisma of our Big-Small town. Some of our most famous Baltimoreans are : actor Charles S. Dutton , Dr. Elijah Saunders , the late Reginald Lewis 1942-1993, Ethel Ennis , the late great CabCalloway 1907-1994, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Howard Rollins, Kwiesi Mfume,

A Newly formed African American Genealogy Internet Group may be found at East Coast African American Genealogists

Here is a Time Line Of Black Baltimore History

Some Select Baltimore City African American Databases

Baltimore City Directory 1810

Baltimore City Directory 1819

Baltimore City Directory 1824

Matchetts Directory 1835-1836

Matchetts Directory 1847-1848

Baltimore City Directory 1864 A thru K

Baltimore City Directory 1864 L thru Z

Baltimore City Directory 1865-1866

Baltimore City Deaths Various 1878-1908