World War I Pennsylvania Colored Soldier Memorial in Eden Cemetery

Eden Cemetery is a historic

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American ...

cemetery located in

Collingdale, Pennsylvania Collingdale is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The population was 8,908, at the 2020 census. Local governance Donna Matteo-Spadea is the current mayor of Collingdale. Frank Kelly served twelve consecutive four-year terms as Mayor of ...

. It was established June 20, 1902, and is the oldest existing black owned cemetery in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. The cemetery covers about 53 acres and contains approximately 93,000 burials.

History

Jerome Bacon, an instructor at the Institute for Colored Youth (the precursor to

Cheyney University Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a public historically black university in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1837, it is the oldest university out of all historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. It is a mem ...

), led efforts to create a cemetery for African-Americans who had been buried in cemeteries in Philadelphia that were being condemned by the city in the early 20th century. The cemeteries included

Lebanon Cemetery Lebanon Cemetery was an African-American cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania established in 1849. It was one of only two private African-American cemeteries in Philadelphia at the time. Lebanon Cemetery was condemned in 1899. The bodies were r ...

(condemned in 1899 - closed in 1903), the Olive Graveyard (closed in 1923), the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged and Infirm Colored Person's Burial Ground and the First African Baptist Church Burial Grounds. The bodies buried in these cemeteries were disinterred and re-interred at Eden Cemetery. The oldest reburial in the cemetery is from 1721. After litigation from Collingdale, Pennsylvania opposing the creation of an African-American cemetery in the township, a charter for the creation of Eden Cemetery was granted by

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

on June 20, 1902. Fifty-three acres of land previously part of Bartram Farms were selected for the creation of the cemetery. The first meeting of the cemetery charter committee was held on August 9, 1902, and included prominent members of Philadelphia's black community in the following roles: * President - John C. Asbury, lawyer * Vice-president - Charles W. Jones * Vice-president - Daniel C. Parvis, upholsterer * Secretary - Jerome Bacon, instructor at the Institute for Colored Youth (the precursor to Cheyney University) * Treasurer - Martin J. Lehmann, cigar maker The first interment at the cemetery was delayed until nightfall due to local white protestors who blocked the cemetery entrance during the day. The headline of the Chester County Times the next day read "''Collingdale Has More Race Troubles, Town Council Has No Use for a Colored Cemetery, No African Need Apply.''" On May 30, 1919, a memorial was erected to commemorate the colored soldiers from Pennsylvania who fought and died in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

from 1917 to 1918. Five children victims of the 1985 MOVE bombing were interred in an unmarked grave at Eden Cemetery. In July 2008, vandals toppled over 200 headstones in the cemetery, including that of

Octavius Valentine Catto Octavius Valentine Catto (February 22, 1839 – October 10, 1871) was an educator, intellectual, and civil rights activist in Philadelphia. He became principal of male students at the Institute for Colored Youth, where he had also been educated. ...

, one of the most famous burials at Eden Cemetery. In 2010, Eden Cemetery was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

. It is still in operation and maintained by a group of volunteers. In 2015, a monument to

Pauline Oberdorfer Minor Pauline Oberdorfer Minor (c. 1885 – January 23, 1963) was an American teacher, singer and composer who was one of the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Biography Pauline Oberdorfer was born around 1885 in Charlottesville, Virgin ...

was erected in Eden Cemetery by the Philadelphia Alumnae chapter of the

Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. () is a historically African American sorority. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Delta ...

sorority She was one of the 22 founders of the Sorority but was working as a housekeeper when she died and was interred in a

pauper's grave A potter's field, paupers' grave or common grave is a place for the burial of unknown, unclaimed or indigent people. "Potter's field" is of Biblical origin, referring to Akeldama (meaning ''field of blood'' in Aramaic), stated to have been p ...

alongside three other people.

Notable burials

Julian Abele Julian Francis Abele (April 30, 1881April 23, 1950) was a prominent Black American architect, and chief designer in the offices of Horace Trumbauer. He contributed to the design of more than 400 buildings, including the Widener Memorial Library at ...

(1881–1950), architect M Anderson Eden Cemetery Delco PA

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to Spiritual (music), spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throu ...

(1897–1993), opera singerPhiladelphia Magazine: Finding African American History at Delaware County’s Eden Cemetery
/ref> * Ruth L. Bennett (1866-1947), Social reformer and first president of the Chester branch of the NAACP * John C. Bowers (1811–1873), entrepreneur, organist, abolitionist *

John Pierre Burr John Pierre Burr (June 1792 – April 4, 1864) was an American abolitionist and community leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, active in education and civil rights for African Americans. He was an illegitimate child of Aaron Burr, the third U. ...

(–1864), abolitionist and community leader in Philadelphia, a son of

Aaron Burr Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805. Burr's legacy is defined by his famous personal conflict with Alexand ...

(1839–1871), civil rights leader, baseball pioneer (originally buried in Lebanon Cemetery, Philadelphia; transferred to Eden, May 14, 1903) *

Caroline LeCount Caroline Rebecca Le Count ( – January 24, 1923; often written as LeCount) was an African-American educator and civil rights figure from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is often compared to activist Rosa Parks for her early efforts to desegregat ...

(1846–1923), civil rights figure, educator, fiancée to Octavius Catto * Dr. Rebecca J Cole (1846–1922). Second African-American female to earn the Doctor of Medicine degree in the United States. * Frank T. Coleman (1911–2008), educator and community volunteer *

Emilie Davis Emilie "Emily" Frances Davis (February 18, 1839 – December 26, 1889) was a free African American woman living in Philadelphia during the American Civil War. She wrote three pocket diaries for the years 1863, 1864, and 1865 recounting her perspe ...

(1839-1889), diarist *

James DePreist James Anderson DePreist (November 21, 1936 – February 8, 2013) was an American conductor. DePreist was one of the first African-American conductors on the world stage. He was the director emeritus of conducting and orchestral studies at T ...

(1936–2013), African-American orchestra conductor *

Henrietta Duterte Henrietta Duterte (1817 – December 23, 1903) was an African-American funeral home owner, philanthropist, and abolitionist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the first American woman to own a mortuary, and her business operated as a stop on ...

(1817–1903), funeral home owner, philanthropist, and abolitionist *

Tyrone Everett Tyrone Everett (April 18, 1953 – May 26, 1977) was a professional boxer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was a top-rated contender in the junior lightweight division during the 1970s. His best known fight is a controversial ...

(1953–1977), Philadelphia professional boxer *

Jessie Redmon Fauset Jessie Redmon Fauset (April 27, 1882 – April 30, 1961) was an African-American editor, poet, essayist, novelist, and educator. Her literary work helped sculpt African-American literature in the 1920s as she focused on portraying a true image ...

(1882–1961), editor, poet, essayist and novelist *

James Forten James Forten (September 2, 1766March 4, 1842) was an African-American abolitionist and wealthy businessman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born free in the city, he became a sailmaker after the American Revolutionary War. Following an apprenticesh ...

(1766–1842), African-American abolitionist and businessman *

Timothy Thomas Fortune Timothy Thomas Fortune (October 3, 1856June 2, 1928) was an orator, civil rights leader, journalist, writer, editor and publisher. He was the highly influential editor of the nation's leading black newspaper ''The New York Age'' and was the leadin ...

(1856–1928), journalist, civil rights leader *Stanislaus Kostka Govern (1854–1924), West Indian–American baseball player, first manager of the

Cuban Giants The Cuban Giants were the first fully salaried African-American professional baseball club. The team was originally formed in 1885 at the Argyle Hotel, a summer resort in Babylon, New York. Initially an independent barnstorming team, they played ...

, labor organizer, journalist, and Shakespearean actor *

Frances Harper Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (September 24, 1825 – February 22, 1911) was an American abolitionist, suffragist, poet, temperance activist, teacher, public speaker, and writer. Beginning in 1845, she was one of the first African-American women to ...

(1825–1911), poet, abolitionist * Francis "Frank" Johnson (1792-1844) pioneering musician whose compositions foreshadowed jazz *

Absalom Jones Absalom Jones (November 7, 1746February 13, 1818) was an African-American abolitionist and clergyman who became prominent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Disappointed at the racial discrimination he experienced in a local Methodist church, he found ...

(1746–1818), African-American abolitionist and clergyman, reinterred to St. Thomas African Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania *

Harry McGilberry Harry McGilberry (January 19, 1950 – April 3, 2006) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul music, soul singer and latter-day Bass guitar, bass singer for The Temptations between 1995 and 2003. Born Harry McGilberry Jr. in Philadelph ...

(1950–2006), R&B and Soul singer Pauline Richardson Oberdorfer Minor gravestone

(1885–1963) a Founder of

sorority * John Bunyan Reeve (1831–1916), Presbyterian minister and professor at Howard University *

Robert Penn Robert Penn (October 10, 1872 – June 8, 1912) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Spanish–American War. Biography On July 20, 1898, Penn wa ...

(1872–1912), Spanish–American War Medal of Honor Recipient *

William Still William Still (October 7, 1821 – July 14, 1902) was an African-American abolitionist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a conductor on the Underground Railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. Before the Ameri ...

(1821–1902), abolitionistWilliam Still Burial Site at Eden Cemetery
National Park Service *

John Baxter Taylor, Jr. John Baxter Taylor Jr. (November 3, 1882, Washington, D.C. – December 2, 1908, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American track and field athlete, notable as the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal. Biography Dr. Taylor was ...

(1882–1908), track and field athlete, first African-American Olympic Gold Medalist * Hannah Archer Till (c. 1721-1826), personal cook of

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

and

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemasonry, freemason and military officer who fought in the Ameri ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

* Charles Albert Tindley (1851–1933), minister, composer *

George Henry White George Henry White (December 18, 1852 – December 28, 1918) was an American attorney and politician, elected as a Republican U.S. Congressman from North Carolina's 2nd congressional district between 1897 and 1901. He later became a banker ...

(1852–1918), US Congressman from

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

Headstone Dedication to Honor Congressman George Henry White, Early Civil Rights Leader
/ref>

References

Citations Sources *

External links

*
YouTube Video - "Bury Me In A Free Land" - The Story of Eden Cemetery
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania 1902 establishments in Pennsylvania African-American cemeteries in Pennsylvania African-American history of Pennsylvania Cemeteries in Delaware County, Pennsylvania Cemeteries on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Cemetery vandalism and desecration Mass graves National Register of Historic Places in Delaware County, Pennsylvania