Waverly in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Matthew J. Perry House
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 29, 2010
1. Matthew J. Perry House Marker
Matthew J. Perry, Jr. (b. 1921), lawyer, civil rights pioneer, and jurist, lived in a house on this site as a youth; the house was torn down in 1997. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, then graduated from S.C. State College (now S.C. State University) in 1948. After graduating in the first class of the S.C. State Law School in 1951 Perry practiced law in Spartanburg, specializing in civil rights cases.
(Reverse text)
Perry returned to Columbia in 1961 as chief counsel of the S.C. State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For fifteen years he tried numerous pivotal civil rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1976 Perry was appointed to the U.S. Military Court of Appeals, and in 1979 he became the first black U.S. district court judge in S.C.
Erected 2008 by The Historic Columbia Foundation, the City of Columbia, and the S.C. Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 40-141.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1997.
Location. 34° 0.556′ N, 81° 1.081′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Calvary Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Luke's Episcopal Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital (about 500 feet away); Cyril O. Spann Medical Office (about 500 feet away); Visanska-Starks House (about 500 feet away); Waverly (approx. 0.2 miles away); Columbia Hospital "Negro Unit" / Columbia Hospital "Negro Nurses" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Heidt - Russell House / Edwin R. Russell (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
Also see . . . Matthew J. Perry, from Wikipedia. The courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, is named after him, although Senator Strom Thurmond wanted it named after himself. (Submitted on September 16, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 29, 2010
2. Matthew J. Perry House Marker, reverse side
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 29, 2010
3. Matthew J. Perry House Marker, and lot where house once stood
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 29, 2010
4. Matthew J. Perry House Marker, looking east along Washington Street
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 29, 2010
5. Matthew J. Perry House Marker, looking west on Washington Street
Photographed By Richland County School District One
6. The Honorable Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,030 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 16, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.
