CDG discussion with Pomeroy Foundation

[Note: this article was published in the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society News in February 2025. Two of Chowan Discovery's rejected marker nominations have now been accepted by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.]

A New Way to Historical Markers – the William G. Pomeroy Foundation

By Marvin Tupper Jones, James Dent Walker Chapter member and the director of the Chowan Discovery Group

Yet again, I applied for an historic marker and the panel of historians turned it down.  Most marker programs are competitive. I have failed six times to get historical markers.  I’ve succeeded 12 times, and two of those successes had been rejected earlier - cutting my losses to four.

A lot of us love historical markers.  They help establish our past existence, and can validate our knowledge, research and our families’ experiences too. Three of my markers acknowledge my earliest known ancestors in North Carolina; a relative who served in the Civil War, was a Juneteenth Soldier and served in the state legislature; and the Civil Rights rallies I attended as a child.

But, erecting African American historical markers can be challenging for even the most diligent of advocates.  For example, it was not until Douglas Wilder became the first African American governor of Virginia that he was able to place a marker for the Nat Turner Rebellion.  He told me that there was resistance from Whites and frightened Blacks.  However, the Nat Turner Rebellion Highway Historical Marker is in its 4th decade. I get to drive past it frequently.

Besides resistance from local folks, there are more likely reasons for the failure of a marker nomination. I’ll cite from my experience: two Indigenous towns from the 1580s have not been located; three nominees lacked state- and nation-wide significance; and the citations for the sixth application were not fully given. This last one was redeemed when I resubmitted a better application.

From talking with successful marker nominators, marker nominations have common requirements:

• the nominator must represent a 501 (c) 3 organization

• the nominee must be a person, site and/or event; and must have lived or taken place, sometime ago – this varies from marker program to program

• permission from the landowner to place the marker

• a narrative about the nominee

• primary and secondary sources

• In the case of a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker, the individual must have died at least 25 years ago, and the event must have taken place over 25 years past.  Also, the nominee must have state- and/or nation-wide significance.

• Sometimes funds are needed to pay for the approved marker.  Markers provided by the North Carolina State Office of Archives and History are free and are placed on state roads. Other states may require payment for the marker which can run from $1500.00 to $3000.00.

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation marker grants are more reachable than state marker programs for honoring African American History.  One of Pomeroy’s foci is on the local history that state makers exclude.  In the past 3 years, I received three of their North Carolina Civil Rights Trail Markers and received a marker for our century-old Atlantic District Fairgrounds, perhaps the only remaining one established and owned by African Americans. (I’m a shareholder.) As with state markers, each Pomeroy marker has a webpage.

In October, the Pomeroy Foundation (https://www.wgpfoundation.org) and I convened a virtual meeting with many people from my network to promote the Foundation’s mission to expand availability of historical markers. AAHGS members, Bessida Cauthorne White and Margo Lee Williams, both veteran marker advocates, took part in the conversation.  Pomeroy’s Executive Director, Bill Brower, and other Pomeroy staff presented the several marker programs and requirements.  Unlike state programs which provide and install the markers, successful Pomeroy applicants are given grant money directly and a form to order the marker from a well-known marker fabricator, Sewah Studios in Ohio. If you have never received a grant before, here is your chance to get a start.

 Here are Pomeroy’s programs:

• Hometown Heritage Marker Grant Program, which is most useful to me

• Hungry for History Marker Grant Program, which is about local foods

• Legends and Lore Marker Grant Program, which includes folklife

• Historic Transportation Marker Grant Program

• National Register Signage Grant Program

• New York State Historic Marker Grant Program

There are two other marker programs that the Foundation funds:

• North Carolina Civil Rights Trails marker, in partnership with the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. I acquired three of the markers. To apply visit https://aahc.nc.gov/programs/civil-rights-trail

• National Collaboration for Women’s History Sites: National Votes for Women Marker.

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I still encourage all to pursue the state marker programs and learn what they offer.  It is successful researchers and marker seekers who explore all the avenues. The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is another way to honor your history and your research.