sourceBelow is a time line of Baltimore events in which African Americans played an integral part!About 1785 Bethel A.M.E. the oldest independent black institution in Baltimore was founded.
1793 First black Catholic Eucharistic community, eventually becoming in 1863 the first black Catholic parish of the United States -
St. Francis Xavier Church1802 Sharp Street United Methodist Church was founded.. The congregation decends from the first African-American congregation in Baltimore.
1810 The first Pastor of Bethel A.M.E., Reverend Daniel Coker, was the author of the first book published by a black Marylander.
1816 The first Pastor of Bethel A.M.E., Reverend Daniel Coker, was elected the first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
1818 Centennial United Methodist Church -Caroline St. was built
1825 Orchard Street United Methodist Church was founded .Truman Le Pratt, a former slave of Governor John Eager Howard.
1825 Frances Ellen Harper was born in Baltimore
1828 First Catholic school for black children in the United States -
St. Frances Academy (Go PANTHERS!)
1829 First black Catholic religious order of nuns ever founded
Oblate Sisters of Providence1837 Orchard Street United Methodist Church or Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal as the church was called then, was built.According to local legend, the church served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and is now the oldest standing structure built by African-Americans in the city of Baltimore.
1852 Union Baptist Church Organized by John Carey, the church became a center for the civil rights struggle.
1865 The Douglass Institute, dedicated on September 29, 1865, was the creation of prominent African Americans from Baltimore who wanted to provide a meeting place to stage cultural, political and educational events for the community.
1866 Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company founded. The black-owned enterprise was started after the Civil War when a group of black businessmen, organized by Isaac Myers, assembled to form the shipyard company. The company operated a successful business until 1883.
1867 The City of Baltimore began providing public education for black students.
1873 Leadenhall Baptist Church founded, the church stands as the second oldest black church edifice in Baltimore . Located 1021 Leadenhall St.
1874 Joe Gans a well-known pugilist and first black to become a world boxing champion born in Baltimore.
1885 The Colored High School of Baltimore, established in 1885, was housed in the old City Hall on Holiday Street.
1888 St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church was established. It was the first parish in the world dedeicated to Saint Peter Claver, the "Apostle for Slaves." The church-run school, which is the oldest private African-American school in the state is still in existance today.
1888 Founding of St. Joseph Seminary on Pennsylanvia Ave and St. Mary St.
The Josephite Priests were designated to serve the black community
1889 Frances Ellen Harper School # 111 built as Colored School No. 9, The school was named for Harper (1825-1911), a Baltimore-born black poet, lecturer and reformer.
1889 Dr. Lillie Carroll Jackson born in Baltimore
1891 First black Catholic priest ordained in the United States Charles R. Uncles of Baltimore
1892 The "
Afro" is the first and oldest black-owned and operated newspaper continuously published in Maryland.
1892 The Colored Polytechnic Institute was established by the City of Baltimore.
1894 The original Provident Hospital was founded in 1894.
1896 Baltimore's first Colored YWCA founded by Sarah A Murphy, Mary E. Bright, Martha Murphy, Frances Murphy, Mary E Cooper, Novella Rayne and Maggie Ridley.
1896
Lexington Savings Bank was formed . Built by and for the African American Communities of Baltimore, Maryland.
1900 The Colored Polytechnic Institute & The Colored High School of Baltimore merged.
1902 Joe Gans well-known pugilist became the first black to become a world boxing champion by winning the lightweight crown .
1908 The first African American Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore
1909 Baltimore native Matthew Henson first to reach the North Pole
1917 Birth of Elizabeth Murphy Moss was a war correspondent for the Afro-American in World War II, which made her the first African-American woman war-correspondent in the European Theatre of the war.
1922 In February 1922, the Douglass Theater opened on this site as the "finest colored theater in America owned and controlled by colored people." The theater was eventually sold to white ownership and its name was changed to the Royal.
1924 The
Baltimore Urban League was formed
1930 Baltimore's own Blanche Calloway (Cab Calloway's older sister) is the first female to head a successful all-male band.
1934 Jazz drummer Ike Dixon, founder of a traveling jazz band opened at 1440 Pennsylvania Avenue a Comedy Club.
1937 Baltimore hires it's first African American Police Officer
Mrs. Violet Hill Whyte1948 Baltimore Tennis Club Marker Location of the 1st public protest against Baltimore's segregated tennis court located at Druid Hill Park adjacent to the Conservatory.
1950 Baltimores own Juanita Jackson Mitchell is the first African-American graduate of the University of Maryland Law School.
1958 Irma Dixon and Verda Welcome Freeman the first African-American women to be elected to the Maryland House of delegates.
1959 Noticing that many Black children seemed to lack inspiration and motivation, Earl K. Koger Sr. developed and published a history card game for children called "Negro Heroes".
1961 First black diplomat to become ambassador for a European country - Baltimore-born Clifton Reginald Wharton, Sr. was named ambassador to Norway
1962 Baltimore Cities own Verda Freeman Welcome becomes the first African-American woman to be elected to the state Senate.
1962 Earl K. Koger Sr. published the first Black history coloring book.
1963 Earl K. Koger Sr. researched and published the "Legend of Jocko", a true story of a young Black boy who inspired George Washington. A statue of Jocko and a copy of the book are currently on display at the Great Blacks in Wax Museum.
1967 First black to serve on the United States Supreme Court Baltimore native
Thurgood Marshall1970 Milton B. Allen is the first African-American elected states attorney for the city of Baltimore City.
1970 Earl K. Koger Sr. wrote and published the first "Black Mother Goose Jingles and Rhymes."
1971 Roland Nathaniel Patterson is the first African-American appointed superintendent of schools in Baltimore City.
1972 Earl K. Koger Sr. rewrote "Jocko" adding music to be performed as a children's opera.
1976
Oprah Winfrey becomes co-anchor and reporter for WJZ-TV in Baltimore, becoming the first African-American woman in the country to hold that position.
1978
Black Classic Press is founded
1979 First black woman in the United States to own a radio station Ms. Dorothy Brunson owner of WEBB-AM in Baltimore
1983 The First African American Wax Museum Opens in Baltimore City
Great Blacks In Wax1984 Bishop Robinson becomes the first African-American commissioner of the Baltimore City police department.
1987 Baltimore votes into office it's first African American
Mayor Kurt Lidell Schmoke1997 Michael Johnson opened this 350 seat cinema which specializes in classic films featuring African Americans
BLACK BALTIMORE FIRST's
Many first have occured in Baltimore over the years. Here are some of the highlights of First's in the African American Community.
Earl Koger Sr., the first Black insurance broker in the state of Maryland.
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