Carter G. Woodson, often hailed as the “Father of Black History,” was a pioneering African American historian, author, and journalist. Born in 1875, he dedicated his life to illuminating the rich history and achievements of African Americans. During the dawning of the twentieth century, it was widely presumed that...
The African American Historical Society of Rockland County fondly remembers Dr. Travis Jackson, a key figure in preserving the history of Hillburn and the fight for desegregation. Dr. Jackson’s deep connection to the Hillburn desegregation case is personal—he was a student at the Brook School during the landmark 1943...
Settlement of the area that would later be known as Orange County and afterwards Rockland County by Europeans and individuals of African descent in the 1680’s. Pioneers from Manhattan and New Jersey settled on a large area of land that lay within the borders of New York and New...
Original Signer of the Tappan Patent Jan (John) de Vries II was baptized on August 25, 1647, at the Dutch Reformed Church. He was the son of a Dutch army captain named Johan de Fries and a black woman named Swartinne. The name Swartinne is derived from the...
Original Signer of the Tappan Patent Claes (Nicholas) Manuel one of the African American signers of the Tappan Patent, was born mid seventeenth century and was baptized on August 22, 1649, in New Amsterdam (New York). Claes was a free Black man. Though it is likely that his parents...
William Henry Myers was born in Virginia, August 17, 1848 and was enslaved on a cotton plantation. In 1860, at the age of twelve, he was sold to a Louisiana cotton farmer. He would work there for three years. At the age of fifteen Myers escaped from that plantation. Word...
Edward Hesdra is hailed for operating an Underground Railroad safe house in Nyack, NY. The UGRR was a secret operation since the penalties for assisting fugitive slaves were severe for the slave as well as the abolitionist. Few records exist that tell us about the activities of agents, conductors...
Ethel Roseboro hailed from North Carolina. She moved to Hillburn in order to teach the third and fourth grades.
Cicely Savery Gunner was the daughter of William Savery, a former slave and master carpenter whose desire to educate his children after the civil war led to the building of the first school for African Americans in Talladega County, Alabama. This school later became Talladega College. Today, visitors to...
News 12 highlights first Black female principal in East Ramapo In honor of Black History Month, News 12 is featuring a woman who made her mark in Rockland County education and beyond. Dr. Arlene Clinkscale moved to Rockland County 60 years ago and became the first Black teacher in...
1st African American Teacher in Pearl River1st African American Female Principal in Rockland County1st African American School Superintendent in NY State Dr. Arlene W. Clinkscale is a role model and ground-breaker in the world of education in Rockland County. She was the first African American school teacher hired in...
Civil War Soldier Monologue My name is William Henry Myers and I am a proud CITIZEN of Nyack, New York and these United States! Now, I put emphasis on citizen because unfortunately during many years of my life, I wasn’t considered a citizen or even a human being. See,...