A wonderful feature of Ancestry dot com is that it signals you to upcoming milestone events related to those in your family tree. Simply open the family tree on which you’d like to focus, then click the ‘home’ tab. Upon scrolling the page, you’ll see upcoming wedding anniversaries, ‘in remembrance’, and upcoming birthdays.
A week ago, I was scrolling on the Gilbert family tree homepage and discovered that our great grand uncle Alexander Lightfoot Manly’s birthday was forthcoming. As such and given that his grave is less than two miles from my home, I decided to organize a long-overdue tribute to this historically significant figure.
I outreached to filmmaker, Christopher Everett, whose documentary Wilmington On Fire highlighted the life and impact of Alen Manly. Chris and I had a nice, long chat and he gave his support for the tribute and asked that we film it for his collection. He promoted the tribute on his social media channels. Link to the trailer to Wilmington on Fire: Wilmington on Fire Trailer
I then outreached to family members, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Everyone was enthusiastic, although the shorty notice precented many from attending from far flung parts of the United States. All were present in spirit and many by video.
Revered Marshall Mitchell, Pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Abington generously agreed to join us. Pastor Mitchell is a history buff and film promoter, having built a new state of the art film screening facility on Salem’s campus. He offered to host Christopher Everett on site. I’m reminded to connect the two of them.
Alex Manly is laid to rest in historic Fairview Cemetery, an African American burial ground in Dresher, Pennsylvania. The plot sections in Fairview are named for historic African American communities in the area. If a decedent is from one of those areas, they are buried in ‘their section’. It’s an interesting and eye-opening experience. Alex is buried in the LaMott section, which represents the historic African American neighborhood where he lived with his family.
The name of this town honors Lucretia Mott, who lived here from the 1850s until her death in 1880. Her house, Roadside, which was demolished in 1911, was a major stop on the Underground Railroad.
Formerly known as Camptown (or “Camp Town”), La Mott was the site of Camp William Penn, the first federal training site for Black soldiers during the American Civil War.
More later on the history of LaMott.
Here is a link to more on Alex Manly. Note the link near the top pf the page to an oral interview with my uncle Milo (pronounced mee-low) Manly, son of Alex Manly. The Life of Alexander L. Manly · Milo Manly · Goin’ North (goinnorth.org)
Alex Manly’s son, Milo, married Oliver Gilbert’s granddaughter, Mary Gilbert. Stay tuned for more on Mary, as she made history of her own as one of the twenty-one Founders of Jack and Jill of America. Jack and Jill of America, Inc
Resolution for Alexander Lightfoot Manly
Presented to those present at the 157th Anniversary of his birth.
May 13, 2023
Fairview Cemetery
1511 Twining Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
-
Stephanie Gilbert reading the Resolution
-
Pastor Marshall Mitchell of Salem Baptist Church of Abington
Whereas May 13, 2023 marks the 157th anniversary of the both of Alexander Lightfoot Manly, we gather at his gravesite to pay tribute to his life and legacy and recognize that the lives of citizens across multiple cities, states, cultures, origins and beliefs have benefitted from the bravery and brilliance displayed by Mr. Manly during his lifetime.
Whereas Mr. Manly was born near Raleigh, North Carolina in 1866 and attended and graduated from Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now Hampton University
Whereas in 1895 Mr. Manly became owner and editor of The Wilmington Daily Record, reported to have been the only daily news publication in the nation for African Americans. The Daily Record, as it was called, advocated for African American civil rights, living conditions, roads and healthcare.
Whereas in August 1898, Mr. Manly bravely and eloquently leveraged his position as Editor to respond to ongoing and increasing racist propaganda campaigns aimed at African American men and women in advance of the 1898 public elections.
Whereas Mr. Manly’s editorial attracted the attention of the Nation and the world, reportedly having been re-published in newspapers across the globe.
Whereas, Mr. Manly’s bravery and fortitude drew white supremacist militia members to Wilmington, NC from near and far, and Mr. Manly’s lynching was promised. Wilmington’s African American population was attacked, and many lives were lost. Thousands of African Americans, many middle class and thriving in business and enterprise, fled Wilmington, never to return. Mr. Manly’s newspaper offices and printing press were destroyed by lynch mob.
Whereas Mr. Manly left North Carolina, settling in Washington, DC where he married Caroline ‘Carrie’ Sadgwar, a Fisk Jubilee singer and native of Wilmington, NC, who, today, remains by his side.
Whereas Mr. And Mrs. Manly soon-after settled and raised a family in La Mott, Pennsylvania where in the decade immediately after the turn of the century, Mr. Manly worked with cohorts to establish the Armstrong Association, a forerunner of the National Urban League, created to broaden family-sustaining employment opportunities for skilled African-American tradesmen migrating from the South during a significantly historic period known as ‘The Great Migration’. The Armstrong Association was named for Samuel C. Armstrong, founder of Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, now Hampton University.
Whereas, Mr. Manly held the position of Industrial Secretary in the Armstrong Association, and secured more than $35,000 in contracts from Philadelphia area employers for African American tradesmen. Mr. Manly toured the southern states, networking with clergymen, training schools and civic leaders to bridge the divide between African American skilled workers in the south and employment opportunities in the north.
Whereas, The Armstrong Association of Philadelphia advanced to affiliate with the National Urban League in a merger that created the Urban League of Philadelphia in 1957.
Now, therefore, be in resolved that Alexander Lightfoot Manly is recognized and celebrated for his lifelong work to secure and uphold dignity and civil rights for African Americans across the Nation.
Be it further resolved that Mr. Manly is hereby honored as a champion for the protection of the freedom of the press as declared in the United Nations’ 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stating that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers”.
Furthermore, be it resolved that Mr. Manly is understood and acknowledged as a change-agent for the advancement of opportunities for African Americans in labor, industry, and enterprise, as well as housing and healthcare.
It is hereby requested that the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania duly and formally recognize Alexander Lightfoot Manly for his many significant and sustaining contributions to the evolution of the environs and opportunities we enjoy today and henceforth.
It is further requested that a copy of this resolution be placed in the archives of Fairview Cemetery, Salem Baptist Church of Abington, Pennsylvania, and the Gilbert family collection.
Respectfully Submitted:
Stephanie H. Gilbert, Archivist, on behalf of the family of Alexander Lightfoot Manly
