Frederick Douglass Memorial Park is a historic cemetery for African Americans in the Oakwood neighborhood of Staten Island, New York. It is named for abolitionist, orator, statesman, and author Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), although he is not buried there. It has burial sites for numerous prominent African Americans, including a pioneering journalist, athletes, musicians, performers, political leaders, and business people.

The original 53-acre cemetery was founded in 1935 by undertaker Rodney Dade, business consultant Benjamin Diamond, and lawyer Frederick Bunn,[1] who previously built the adjoining Valhalla Burial Park.[note 1] The Frederick Douglass Memorial Park was managed by African Americans and intended to provide an attractive option for African Americans excluded from segregated cemeteries and facing high burial costs in the vicinity of New York. The first burials at the cemetery were on Monday June 10, 1935.[2]

In 1961, a bronze bas relief cenotaph monument to Frederick Douglass designed by Angus McDougall was added near the cemetery's entrance. It was reportedly the first monument in New York City honoring the civil rights leader. [3]

In May 2018, the historic red-brick pillars and wrought-iron fencing at the cemetery were removed and replaced with a "glossy placard", a move that brought a suit from the Friends of Frederick Douglass Memorial Park Inc.[4][5] The cemetery had also been reduced to 17 acres by this time.[4] The suit was thrown out by the Civil Supreme Court Justice.[6]

The memorial park opened with "perpetual care" for graves included in the burial price,[2] but by 2018 many of the graves were in bad repair with some gravesites lost or unrecognizable.[4]

Administration

Original administration (1935):[2]

  • president – Frederick A. Bunn
  • board members – Kenneth Duncan, vice-president; Rodney Dade, secretary and treasurer; James Beckett; W. C. Brown; William P. Hayes; William M. Kelley; A. Clayton Powell Sr.; Clarence C. Wright
  • general manager of sales – W. A. Tooks.

Board of Directors (2020): Lucille H. Herring, President; Duane C. Felton, Vice President; Virginia Allen, Secretary; Pamela M. Marshall, Treasurer; Michael Taylor, 2nd Vice President; Brandon P. Stradford, 3rd Vice President. Assistant Manager (2020): Virginia Footman.[7]

Notable people interred

Notes

  1. ↑ The Valhalla Burial Park is now known as Ocean View The Cemetery Beautiful.

References

  1. ↑ Marcius, Chelsia Rose (May 26, 2018). "Frederick Douglass Memorial Park grounds manager sued for dismantling 83-year-old iconic gate and sign". New York Daily News.
  2. 1 2 3 "Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, a 53-Acre Cemetery in Staten Island to be controlled by Negroes". The New York Age. 22 June 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 22 November 2020. Open access icon
  3. ↑ French, M. (2018-08-18). "Frederick Douglass Memorial Park". New York City Cemetery Project. Mary French.
  4. 1 2 3 Chelsia Rose Marcius (27 May 2018). "Face-off at burial site". Daily News. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 22 November 2020. Open access icon
  5. ↑ Chelsia Rose Marcius (27 May 2018). "Face-off at burial site". Daily News. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 22 November 2020. Open access icon
  6. ↑ "Judge tosses suit against caretaker of black cemetery". Daily News. 1 July 2018. p. 15. Retrieved 22 November 2020. Open access icon
  7. ↑ "About Us". Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ Tracy, Steven Carl (1993). Going to Cincinnati: A History of the Blues in the Queen City. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0252019999 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Elias Brown Negro Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ↑ "Peace, at last. Slain Bronx mom praised for coping with life of poverty". Daily News. 4 November 1984. p. 227. Retrieved 22 November 2020. Open access icon
  11. ↑ Garraty, John Arthur; Carnes, Mark C. (1999). American National Biography. Oxford University. ISBN 978-0195127935 – via Google Books.

Further reading

40°33′49″N 74°08′06″W / 40.56361°N 74.13500°W / 40.56361; -74.13500

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