In August 1963, dozens of residents from Scranton traveled to Washington, DC for the March for Jobs and Freedom, witnessing Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech firsthand. Their reflections capture a powerful moment during the Civil Rights Movement that felt, as one attendee said, like “This is America.” Read the Full Story.
Uncover the remarkable story of Jonathan J. Wright, Pennsylvania’s first African American lawyer and a South Carolina Supreme Court judge. His 1870 Wilkes-Barre speech championed equality and civil rights during Reconstruction, leaving an enduring legacy of justice and progress. Read the full story.
Celebrate Black History Month with stories of African American pioneers in Pennsylvania’s Coal Region—from Civil War bravery to crucial roles in 20th-century progress. Discover heroes like Nicholas Biddle and Charles H. King, Jr., and learn how they shaped our communities. Join us in honoring this remarkable legacy. Read the full story.
In December 1922, Donald Tarr tragically lost his life in a mining accident at the Burnside Colliery near Shamokin, Pennsylvania. As one of the small number African American miners in the region, Tarr and his family had deep roots in the local coal industry. Discover the story of this skilled miner and the legacy of his family in the anthracite fields. Read the full story.
Harry Elmer James wrote a letter to the editor of the Harrisburg Telegraph pleading for Black equality following World War I.
In two detailed letters, the teachers at the Pottsville Freedmen's School highlighted their educational efforts in Tennessee.
Fannie A. Couch wrote to Schuylkill County from Tennessee to provide updates about the Freedmen's School she was managing.
The teachers from the Pottsville Freedmen's Relief Association penned a letter home to Pennsylvania in March 1867.
Charles H. King, Jr. eloquently described his childhood in Pottsville in his book, "Fire in my Bones."
A newspaper clipping from March 1867 provided an update about the efforts of the Pottsville Freedmen's Relief Association teachers.