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The African American Trail Project at Tufts University A Walking Tour

Africana Memorial Plaque

3 The Green, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts

inside Goddard Chapel


On November 20, 2015, current students, faculty and alumni associated with the Africana Center and the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy gathered at Goddard Chapel to rededicate the Africana Memorial Plaque hanging on the walls of the sanctuary. The plaque was first created by beloved Tufts History professor Gerald R. Gill before he passed away in 2007. It honors the legacy of African American Tufts community members.

Africana Memorial Plaque*

Mae Tyson Wright Williams J27

Jester Harrison A29, H72

Cuthbert Philbert A28, M31

Irma Thompson Diggs J37

Edward Duggar Jr. E41

Dr. Vernon Jones A48

Reginald Alleyne A54

Lorene Douglas McCain J63

Clinton Wright A73

Willie Young A73

Jill Billups Beltran J79

Marsha Vaughn J70

Brenda Holloway J80

Ronnie Woods A80

Morris Benn A82

Ronald Blackburn A85

Ken Noel A86

Karen Henry J88, AG88

Anita Griffey J90

Lena Bruce E92

Gregory Hunter A92

Kyri Kincade J95

Seth Wadley A97

James Vance A81P, Instructor, Experimental College

Jewel Hariston Bell (Director of the African American Center '88-'90)

Davie Sheppard A81, Coach, Track & Football

Edwina Middleton (Office of Financial Aid)

Gerald R. Gill (Associate Professor of History)

Wayne L. Owens, A81, A11P

Cortland O. Duggar, A50

Todd McFadden, Director, Africana Center 1995-1998


You can read more about the people memorialized on the plaque on the Another Light on the Hill exhibit.


*The plaque was reviewed and updated in 2019