Augusta in Richmond County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
John Wesley Gilbert
(c.1863-1923)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2024
1. John Wesley Gilbert Marker
Inscription.
John Wesley Gilbert is considered the first African-American archaeologist. Born enslaved near Hephzibah, he was educated in Augusta's segregated public schools, at Paine Institute (now Paine College), and at Brown University, where he focused on ancient Greek. In 1888, he became Paine College's first Black faculty member, teaching humanities there until 1919. From 1890 to 1891, Gilbert represented Brown University in Greece as one of the first 50 Americans and the first African American at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA). With the ASCSA, Gilbert and his colleague John Pickard conducted a pioneering archaeological and topographical survey of the ancient city of Eretria that set a standard for future professional research. Between 1911-1912, Gilbert helped establish a Methodist mission in the Belgian Congo. Gilbert died in 1923 and is buried in Augusta's Cedar Grove Cemetery.
John Wesley Gilbert is considered the first African-American archaeologist.
Born enslaved near Hephzibah, he was educated in Augusta's segregated public
schools, at Paine Institute (now Paine College), and at Brown University, where
he focused on ancient Greek. In 1888, he became Paine College's first Black
faculty member, teaching humanities there until 1919. From 1890 to 1891,
Gilbert represented Brown University in Greece as one of the first 50 Americans
and the first African American at the American School of Classical Studies at
Athens (ASCSA). With the ASCSA, Gilbert and his colleague John Pickard
conducted a pioneering archaeological and topographical survey of the ancient
city of Eretria that set a standard for future professional research. Between
1911-1912, Gilbert helped establish a Methodist mission in the Belgian Congo.
Gilbert died in 1923 and is buried in Augusta's Cedar Grove Cemetery.
Erected 2024 by Georgia Historical Society Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History Paine College American School of Classical Studies at Athens. (Marker Number 121-27.)
Location. 33° 28.21′ N, 81° 59.798′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Georgia, in Richmond County. It is on Druid Park Avenue 0.1 miles north of Central Avenue, on the left when traveling north. It is in front of Gilbert Lambuth Memorial Chapel on the Paine College campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1255 Druid Park Ave, Augusta GA 30904, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Paine College (a
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 26, 2024
Also see . . . The extraordinary life of John Wesley Gilbert, the first Black archaeologist. By any measure, John Wesley Gilbert led an extraordinary life. Born into slavery, he became one of Americas great scholars a classicist, a linguist, an archaeologist and an educator. His drive, faith and commitment to education took him from the poverty of his native Georgia to Brown University, Greece, Africa and beyond. (Jim Logan, University of California- Santa Barbara, Feb. 10, 2022) (Submitted on March 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Images of Brown. Brown Digital Repository. Brown University (Public Domain), 1888
3. John Wesley Gilbert
Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 196 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 5, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on March 6, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
