Downtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Harry Sythe Cummings
(1866 - 1917)
Harry S. Cummings was the first African American elected to the Baltimore City Council.
Born in Baltimore, Cummings received his primary education in Baltimore City public schools. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at age sixteen. He was one of the first two African Americans permitted to attend the University of Maryland Law School. In 1889, he completed law school one year early and was admitted to the Maryland Bar.
In 1890, at age twenty-four, Cummings won a seat on the Baltimore City Council and became the first African American to be elected to public office in Baltimore history. He served numerous terms until his death in 1917, and was active in local and national politics.
As a councilman, Cummings championed the rights of African Americans in Baltimore at a time when they faced significant political, social, and economic disenfranchisement. He fought against discriminatory housing segregation laws and successfully introduced legislation to create the first public technical school in Baltimore open to African Americans.
To honor the legacy of Harry S. Cummings, the City of Baltimore rededicated this building to his memory on December 18th, 2017.
Erected 2017 by City of Baltimore, Maryland
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is December 18, 2017.
Location. 39° 17.426′ N, 76° 36.606′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of East Fayette Street and Holliday Street, on the right when traveling east on East Fayette Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 E Fayette St, Baltimore MD 21202, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. On This Location (within shouting distance of this marker); The Negro Heroes of the United States (within shouting distance of this marker); A Tribute to Our Unsung Heroes (within shouting distance of this marker); City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Loyola College and High School (within shouting distance of this marker); First Gas Street Lamp in America (within shouting distance of this marker); Rembrandt Peale (within shouting distance of this marker); Discover Holliday Street: A Stage for Culture, Politics, and Worship (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 183 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 31, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
