John Sweat Rock (1825-1866)
A physician, dentist, abolitionist, and the first Black lawyer entitled to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court (honored as such by a room named for him at the Boston Bar Association).
83 Phillips Street Residence
Leonard A. Grimes (1815-1874)
A freeborn black man, minister of Twelfth Baptist Church (1848-1874), abolitionist, fighter to free fugitive slaves, Underground Railroad conductor, and redeemer of escaped slave Anthony Burns through the purchase of his liberty (1854).
28 Grove Street Residence
Thom' Paul, Sr. (1773-1831) and his daughter, Susan Paul (1809-1841)
Thomas Paul, first minister of the African Baptist Church, Masonic leader, and missionary to Haiti. Susan Paul: teacher, author, abolitionist, suffragette.
36 West Cedar Street Residence
Susie Baker King Taylor (1842-1912)
Civil War nurse, teacher, author, organizer and President of Corps 67, Women's Relief Corps Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.
23 Holyoke Street Residence
Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924)
African American civil rights leader, editor of the Women's Era Journal, club woman, convener of the 1895 Federation of Women's Clubs, member of the New England Women's Press Association, charter member of the Massachusetts Suffrage Association,
co-founder of the League of Women for Community Service, and wife of Judge George I .Rut lin.
103 Charles Street Residence
John Telemachus Hilton (1801-1864)
Grand Master, Prince Hall Mason, a founder of Massachusetts General Colored Association, member of Boston Vigilance Anti-Slavery Society, member of the First Independent Baptist Church on Joy Street, staunch integrationist.
12 Belknap Street (now 73 -75 Joy Street) Residence
David Walker (1785-1830)
In 1829 published an "Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World" decrying American slavery and racial hatred and summoning his fellow African Americans to resist. Possession of the "Appeal" was a crime in the South. A bounty was placed on him by Georgia Slave owners.
8 Belknap Street (now 81 Joy Street) Residence
Maria W. Stewart (1803-1879)
Controversial Black abolitionist. essayist, lecturer, religious activist. Her speeches, published by William Lloyd Garrison, were the first speeches publicly delivered by an African American woman on politics and women's rights.
8 Belknap Street (now 81 Joy Street) Residence
Jessie Gideon Garnett (1897-1976)
Graduate of Girl's High School in Boston. First female African American graduate of Tufts Dental School. First female African American dentist in Boston. Her residence housed her dental practice, and also served as a nursing home for elderly female patients discharged from hospitals.
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Wife of Robert C. Garnett.
80 Munroe Street/Roxbury Residence
Zipporah Potter Atkins (c.1645-1705)
Only 17th century woman of African descent to buy land in Boston, purchased a house on this site in 1670. Born free despite enslavement of Africans in Massachusetts, she was a North End resident and the first African woman to sign her initials on a Deed in Suffolk County.
Rose F. Kennedy Greenway
North End; Hanover and Surface Artery Streets
In addition to placing plaques, The Heritage Guild, Inc. sponsored and promoted the 1985 publication, "Developing a Black Meritocracy: A History of Black Graduates of the Boston Latin School," by Adelaide M. Cromwell. The Guild also gave the school portraits of its first two African American graduates, Parker Bailey and Clement Morgan. Further, The Guild played a key role in placing the name of Wade Hampton McCree, class of 1937, on the frieze of the Boston Latin School auditorium, which honors the school's distinguished graduates. Additionally, the organization contributes an annual scholarship in the name of Wade McCree to a Boston Latin School graduate of African descent.
The Guild also presented a portrait of Thomas Paul, Sr. to the African Meeting House, and a portrait of John Sweat Rock to the Boston Bar Association.
The Heritage Guild, Inc. P.O. Box 90531 Boston, MA 02199