Petersburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-1876)

Joseph Jenkins Robert (1809-1876) Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Blake Rogers Wilson, March 21, 2025

1. Joseph Jenkins Robert (1809-1876) Marker

Inscription. Joseph Jenkins Roberts, first president of Liberia, was born free in Norfolk. After moving to Petersburg, he worked in a barbershop at Wythe and Sycamore Streets and gained an education by reading extensively. In 1829 Roberts and his family sailed for Liberia, a settlement of the American Colonization Society. There he became a prosperous merchant. Elected president when Liberia won independence, he served from 1848 to 1856 and again from 1872 to 1876. He made several diplomatic visits to the United States. Roberts helped found Liberia College (now the University of Liberia) and was its president for 20 years.

Erected 2014 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number QA 32.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 37° 13.585′ N, 77° 24.194′ W. Marker is in Petersburg, Virginia. It is at the intersection of West Wythe Street (Business U.S. 460) and South Sycamore Street, on the left when traveling east on West Wythe Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

this postal address: 13 W Wythe St, Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper 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: Joseph Jenkins Roberts (a few steps from this marker); McKenney Library (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Formation of the Southern Methodist Church (about 600 feet away); McKenney House (about 600 feet away); The Home of Nora Fontaine Maury Davidson (about 600 feet away); William Langhorne Bond (1893-1985) (about 600 feet away); Virginia Voters League (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gothic Cottage (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Petersburg.

Another marker is no longer

Paid Advertisement

nearby. McKenney Library (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 21, 2025, by Blake Rogers Wilson of Washington, D.c.. This page has been viewed 285 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on March 25, 2025, by Blake Rogers Wilson of Washington, D.c.. Photo 1. submitted on March 21, 2025, by Blake Rogers Wilson of Washington, D.c.. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.