North Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

John Wesley Frierson

1880 - 1965

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 18, 2025

1. John Wesley Frierson Marker

Inscription. J.W. Frierson moved to Nashville around 1900. A noted entrepreneur and one of the first African American millionaires in Nashville, he founded a real estate company and owned rental properties across the city. He also founded the Frierson Foundation and supported civil rights activities. After his death and as stipulated in his will, the Nashville branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been located in the Frierson Building.

Erected 2025 by The Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. (Marker Number 279.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 36° 10.256′ N, 86° 48.069′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in North Nashville. It is on Jefferson Street east of 14th Avenue North, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1308 Jefferson St, Nashville TN 37208, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

marker is in Middle Tennessee.

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 Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech at Fisk University (here, next to this marker); Dr. Matthew Walker Sr. (within shouting distance of this marker); Nashville Sit-Ins (within shouting distance of this marker); The Alfred Stieglitz Collection at Fisk University/The Civil Rights March (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. D.B. Todd, Jr. (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 'Night Train' (about 500 feet away); Kossie Gardner Sr. (about 600 feet away); Clark Memorial United Methodist Church (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

John Wesley Frierson Marker (Frierson Building seen on left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 18, 2025

2. John Wesley Frierson Marker (Frierson Building seen on left)

Frierson Building with NAACP Nashville office on right side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, May 18, 2025

3. Frierson Building with NAACP Nashville office on right side

Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 18, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.