U Street Corridor in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

John Wesley Cromwell Residence

African American Heritage Trail, Washington, DC

— 1439 Swann Street, NW —

John Wesley Cromwell Residence Marker image. Click for full size.

By J. Makali Bruton, July 28, 2016

1. John Wesley Cromwell Residence Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Lawyer, scholar, and publisher John Wesley Cromwell (1846-1927) lived here from 1894 until his death. Born enslaved in Portsmouth, Virginia, Cromwell moved to Washington in 1871 to study law at Howard University. He published the weekly People's Advocate from 1876 until 1886. In 1896 he joined with Alexander Crummell, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Walter B. Hayson, and Kelly Miller to found the American Negro Academy, a learned society dedicated to advancing African American culture through scholarly publishing and by supporting "youths of genius." Cromwell penned the pioneering study, The First Negro Churches in the District of Colombia (1917), as well as The Negro in American History (1914) and other works.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities 🎓 series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1439.

Location.

By J. Makali Bruton, July 28, 2016

2. John Wesley Cromwell Residence Marker

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38° 54.892′ N, 77° 2.004′ W. Marker is in U Street Corridor in Washington, District of Columbia. Marker is on Swann Street Northwest east of 15th Street Northwest, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1439 Swann Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. This is part of the Shaw neighborhood (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Georgia Douglas Johnson Residence (about 400 feet away); This section of 15th St. (about 400 feet away); Strong Families and Eminent Citizens (about 500 feet away); A Magic Place (about 500 feet away); Bishop's Gate Condominium (about 600 feet away); Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church (about 800 feet away); The Hawarden (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in U Street Corridor.

More about this marker.
Caption:
John Wesley Cromwell
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Querétaro, Mexico. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 29, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Querétaro, Mexico.