On this episode of the podcast, Devin and Lauren were able to attend the unveiling of the brand-new Garnet Douglass Baltimore historical marker at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy along with Bill Pomeroy himself. Garnet Douglass Baltimore was the first African American graduate of RPI and went on to a long and very successful career as a civil and landscape engineer.
Interviewees: Dr. La Tasha A. Brown, Director of Community Relations at RPI
Unveiling Ceremony Speakers: Bill Pomeroy, founder of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation and Dr. Martin A. Schmidt, President of RPI
Marker of Focus: Garnet Baltimore, Rensselaer County
Devin Lander and Lauren Roberts by the Garnet Baltimore marker. Photo courtesy of Lauren Roberts.
Garnet Douglass Baltimore. Image courtesy of the Hart Cluett Museum
William G. Pomeroy speaking at the Garnet Douglass marker dedication, April 15, 2025. Photo courtesy of Lauren Roberts.
William G. Pomeroy speaking at the Garnet Douglass marker dedication, April 15, 2025. Photo courtesy of Lauren Roberts.
Further Reading:
Kenneth Aaron, “Troy Street Paved with Family Pride,” Albany Times Union, February 11, 2021.
“Garnet Douglass Baltimore, 1859-1946,” The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
“Garnet Douglass Baltimore,” Black Past.
Suzanne Spellen, “Garnet Douglass Baltimore: Troy’s Landscape Master,” New York Almanac.
“The History of Oakwood Cemetery,” Oakwood Cemetery.
Teacher Resources:
Hart Cluett Museum, Educator Resources
Follow Along:
Devin & Lauren
Welcome to a New York Minute in History. I'm Devin lander, the New York State historian, and I'm Lauren Roberts, the historian for Saratoga County.
Lauren Roberts:
On this month's episode, we're taking you to a brand new historic marker located at one oh 5/8 Street in the city of Troy, which is part of Rensselaer County. The sign is located at the top of an elaborate granite staircase known as the approach, which connects the city of Troy to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, better known as RPI. And the text reads, Garnett, Baltimore first black RPI graduate class of 1881 lifelong Troy resident, civil engineer who designed Prospect Pa
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