Inventory of African American Historic Sites - Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

wdt_ID	Site Name	Neighborhood	Address	City	State	Zip Code	Significance	Type of Historic Resource	Date Built / Architect	Listed in PHMC Cultural Resources Database	Philadelphia Register	Philadelphia Historic District	National Register of Historic Places	National Register Historic District	Listed in PHMC Cultural Resources Database	Other surveys, if applicable	Historical Marker	Text of Historical Marker:
1	19th District Police Station	Center City	825 Lombard St.	Philadelphia	PA	19147	Some of the first black police officers in the city were assigned to the 19th police district in the late 19th century. This Georgian Revival building was designed by Bissell and Sinkler in 1908.	police station	1908, Bissell & Sinkler						yes (825-827 Lombard St.)
2	A. M. E. Book Concern	Center City	631 Pine St.	Philadelphia	PA	19106	Founded in 1836 as an outlet for members of the AME Church, the AME Book Concern published many important works by African American authors. The publishing house had moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in 1852. Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner and Dr. Henr					Society Hill Historic District (3/10/1999; 631-33 Pine)		Society Hill National Register Historic District, status unclear			PA Historical Marker	Here in 1836 a church related company began printing hymnals, religious materials, and works by Black authors of the period. In 1847 The Christian Recorder was published here. Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner was editor of the firm until 1884.
3	Aces Museum	Northwest	5801-5803 Germantown Ave.	Philadelphia	PA	19144	Founded in 2004, Aces Museum is located in the third floor of this building and honors black and minority World War II veterans and their families. The space was once known as Parker Hall, and served as a former USO-style venue for black soldiers during W	museum, USO	ca. 1900; alterations 1950					Colonial Germantown National Historic Landmark District, contributing resource
4	African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Site #1	Center City	5th St. and St. James St.	Philadelphia	PA	19106	This is the first home of the important, early African American congregation, founded by Absalom Jones. According to Cooperman, the congregation's building was dedicated in 1794. After the congregation moved from the southwest corner of 5th and St. James	church	ca. 1794								PA Historical Marker (1984; 5th St. south of St. James Place)	Organized in 1792 as an outgrowth of the Free African Society, formed 1787. The original church edifice stood here. Under the ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones (1746-1818), a former slave, this became the nation's first Black Episcopal church.
5	African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Site #2	Center City	203-209 S. 12th St.	Philadelphia	PA	19107	This was the second home of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, founded in 1792. According to Cooperman, the congregation moved from its original location at 5th and St. James Streets (see entry) to this location in 1890, into a church building de	church	1889-1890, Frank Miller		(203 S. 12th is listed on Philadelphia Register, 1/6/1972)			East Center City National Register Historic District, vacant lot listed as intrusion
6	African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Site #3	West	6361 Lancaster Ave.	Philadelphia	PA	19151	Founded in 1792, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas congregation moved from its second home at 203-209 S. 12th Street (see entry) to this location sometime after 1923. According to Cooperman, the congregation moved into the former Memorial Church	church	1899, Frederick Mann; alterations, 1905, Baily & Bassett					Overbrook Farms National Register Historic District, contributing resource	yes	Census of Stained Glass Windows in America
7	African-American Baseball Fields	West	Belmont and Parkside Ave.	Philadelphia	PA	19104	The African American baseball club the Philadelphia Stars played in the Negro National League from 1933-1948, and many of their games took place here.										PA Historical Marker (1998)	For 85 years, starting with the Pythians and Excelsiors in 1867, Black ball clubs were a significant part of the Philadelphia scene. The Giants, formed 1902, were soon "World's Colored Champions." The Hilldales, Eastern Colored League Champions, 1923-25,
8	Afro-American Insurance Company	Center City	159, 529 Lombard St.	Philadelphia	PA	19147	The first known insurance firm to be owned and operated by blacks, the Afro-American Insurance Company was formed here in the early 19th century to provide blacks a Christian burial. The company's leaders included Joseph Randolph, William Coleman and Jame					Society Hill Historic District (3/10/1999; 529 Lombard St.)
9	Alain Leroy Locke House	South	2221 S. 5th St.	Philadelphia	PA	19148	Born here, Alain Leroy Locke (1885-1954) graduated from Central High and Harvard University, and was the first African American Rhodes Scholar. After earning his PhD from Harvard in 1918, Locke was named chairman of Howard University's Philosophy Departme	dwelling									PA Historical Marker (1991)	Born here, Locke was an African-American critic and chronicler of the Harlem Renaissance. A Harvard graduate, Rhodes Scholar, and Howard University educator, he was a writer and promoter of Black art and culture.
10	Allen A.M.E. Church Building #2 / First Church of the Covenanters Presbyterian Church / New Light Beulah Baptist Church	South	1701-1711 Bainbridge St.	Philadelphia	PA	19146	Founded in 1873, the Allen AME Church congregation moved from its first home at 1923-1927 Lombard Street (see entry) to this location about 1910. According to Cooperman, the congregation moved into the former First Church of the Covenanters Presbyterian C	church	ca. 1870
	Site Name	Neighborhood	Address	City	State	Zip Code	Significance	Type of Historic Resource	Date Built / Architect	Listed in PHMC Cultural Resources Database	Philadelphia Register	Philadelphia Historic District	National Register of Historic Places	National Register Historic District	Listed in PHMC Cultural Resources Database	Other surveys, if applicable	Historical Marker	Text of Historical Marker: