Frederick Douglass Memorial Park

Cemetery in Staten Island, New York

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 park was designated a New York City designated landmark in June 2024.^[1]

History

The original 53-acre cemetery was founded in 1935 by undertaker Rodney Dade, business consultant Benjamin Diamond, and lawyer Frederick Bunn,^[2] 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.^[3]

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. ^[4]

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.^[5]^[6] The cemetery had also been reduced to 17 acres by this time.^[5] The suit was thrown out by the Civil Supreme Court Justice.^[7]

The memorial park opened with "perpetual care" for graves included in the burial price,^[3] but by 2018 many of the graves were in bad repair with some gravesites lost or unrecognizable.^[5] The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission considered granting landmark status to Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in early 2024,^[8]^[9] and the park was designated June 18, 2024.^[10]^[11]

Administration

Original administration (1935):^[3]

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.^[12]

Notable people interred

Mamie Smith,^[13] singer, dancer, pianist, and actress
Elias "Country" Brown – Negro league baseball player^[14]
Lillyn Brown, singer and entertainer
Eleanor Bumpurs,^[15] elderly disabled woman shot to death by police in a confrontation during her eviction
Nannie C. Burden (1891–1947) – singer and political candidate
Floyd J. Calvin (1902–1939) – journalist and news service founder
Tommy Ladnier, trumpeter
Joseph E. Lymas (1883–1947) – violinist
Wentworth Arthur Matthew (1892–1973)^[16]
Jimmy Mordecai, tap dancer
Tom Doyed Overton (1889–1944)
C. Luckeyth Roberts, pianist and composer
Sol White, professional baseball player, manager, and executive
Rev. S. J. Worell
Julia Pearl Hughes, businesswoman and women's club leader
Rosa Henderson, singer and entertainer

Notes

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

References

^ "Mayor Adams, Landmarks Preservation Commission Designate Staten Island's Frederick Douglass Memorial Park As Individual Landmark". nyc.gov. Government of New York City. June 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c "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 – via Newspapers.com .
^ French, M. (2018-08-18). "Frederick Douglass Memorial Park". New York City Cemetery Project. Mary French.
^ ^a ^b ^c Marcius, Chelsia Rose (27 May 2018). "Face-off at burial site". Daily News. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 22 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Marcius, Chelsia Rose (27 May 2018). "Face-off at burial site". Daily News. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 22 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Marcius, Chelsia Rose (1 July 2018). "Judge tosses suit against caretaker of black cemetery". Daily News. p. 15. Retrieved 22 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Landmarks Votes to Calendar Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in Staten Island". CityLand. March 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^ Liotta, Paul (April 16, 2024). "'The bodies have expired, the dreams haven't;' This Staten Island cemetery could earn NYC landmark status". silive. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^ "Landmarks Designates Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in Staten Island". CityLand. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^ Liotta, Paul (June 19, 2024). "Mayor declares Staten Island has new landmark: 'It opened its doors when others turned Black New Yorkers away'". silive. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
^ "About Us". Frederick Douglass Memorial Park, Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
^ 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.
^ "Elias Brown Negro Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
^ Rosario, Ruben (4 November 1984). "Peace, at last. Slain Bronx mom praised for coping with life of poverty". Daily News. p. 227. Retrieved 22 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Garraty, John Arthur; Carnes, Mark C. (1999). American National Biography. Oxford University. ISBN 978-0195127935 – via Google Books.