Southwest Berkeley in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Rumford's Pharmacy
Berkeley History
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 6, 2020
1. Rumford's Pharmacy Marker
Inscription.
Rumford's Pharmacy. Berkeley History. In the 1930s pharmacist and civil rights activist Dr. William Byron Rumford (1908–1986) served as the first black professional at Oakland's Highland Hospital. In 1942 he purchased a pharmacy in Berkeley and, after constructing this building, launched Rumford's Pharmacy here in 1951.
Rumford became the first African-American elected in Northern California to the State legislature in 1948. He authored major civil rights legislative measures including the Fair Employment Practices Act of 1959 and the Rumford Fair Housing Act of 1963. His legislative work paved the way for the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1968.
When not in the legislature Rumford was here, in his pharmacy. It became a key hub for African-Americans involved in civic matters, serving as informal headquarters for many emerging black politicians. Rumford retired in 1981. After his death his family agreed this building would become a non-profit community health clinic. In 2016 Rumford's life and legacy were memorialized with a nearby sculpture. ,
In the 1930s pharmacist and civil rights activist Dr. William Byron
Rumford (1908–1986) served as the first black professional at
Oakland's Highland Hospital. In 1942 he purchased a pharmacy in
Berkeley and, after constructing this building, launched Rumford's
Pharmacy here in 1951.
Rumford became the first African-American elected in Northern
California to the State legislature in 1948. He authored major civil
rights legislative measures including the Fair Employment Practices
Act of 1959 and the Rumford Fair Housing Act of 1963. His legislative work paved the way for the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1968.
When not in the legislature Rumford was here, in his pharmacy. It
became a key hub for African-Americans involved in civic matters,
serving as informal headquarters for many emerging black politicians.
Rumford retired in 1981. After his death his family agreed this building would become a non-profit community health clinic. In 2016 Rumford's life and legacy were memorialized with a nearby sculpture.
Erected 2017 by Berkeley Historical Plaque Project.
37° 51.23′ N, 122° 16.764′ W. Marker is in Berkeley, California, in Alameda County. It is in Southwest Berkeley. Marker is on Sacramento Street north of Ashby Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2960 Sacramento Street, Berkeley CA 94702, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . William Byron Rumford (Wikipedia). "William Byron Rumford (February 2, 1908 – June 12, 1986) was an American pharmacist and politician. He was the first African American elected to a state public office in Northern California." (Submitted on August 7, 2020.)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 6, 2020
2. Rumford's Pharmacy Marker - wide view
The marker is mounted to the south side of the former pharmacy, now a non-profit medical clinic.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 1, 2020
3. William Byron Rumford Statue (across the street from the marker)
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 1, 2020
4. Rumford plaque at foot of his statue (click to enlarge)
Pharmacist · Community Leader · Politician, Environmentalist · Public Health Advocate
Photo courtesy of the Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley
5. William Byron Rumford speaking into a microphone.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 7, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
