The City Cemetery was created as a burial place for all Nashvillians in 1822.  Until private cemeteries began to appear during the mid-nineteenth century, black and white people alike found their final resting place here.  Although the private Mt. Ararat Cemetery for blacks opened after the Civil War, many prominent African Americans, including Fisk Jubilee Singers Ella Sheppard Moore and Mable Lewis Imes, politician Elias Polk, and philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, chose to be buried in City Cemetery.  Perhaps one-third of the interments here are those of African Americans, but, until now, very little research has focused on their lives and their contributions to Nashville.

Prior to the Civil War, the city's black population included both slaves and free people.  Many slaves are buried here.  For a researcher seeking an enslaved ancestor, the cemetery's interment records can be a great help.  (See below for links.)  The record includes the slave's first name, age, name of owner, and burial location.  Interment records of free black persons list much of the same information, as well as a last name, an occupation, and sometimes a useful note.  For example, when Jack Macon died in 1860, his record included the notation, "known as Dr. Jack."  Macon had an office on Water Street and advertised in the City Directory.

Slave Sally Thomas, permitted by her owner to operate her own business, gained freedom for her three sons and then for herself.  Her life is the subject of John Hope Franklin's book, In Search of the Promised Land.  She died in the cholera epidemic of 1850.

The graves of these people and many others were once marked by carved tombstones, now faded and illegible.  Luckily, several early 20th century transcribers copied the inscriptions and noted the locations on a map, so this information is not lost to us.  Part of the Nashville City Cemetery Association's long-range plan includes the creation of a walking-tour brochure featuring African Americans who lie in City Cemetery, and the placement of a marker honoring their lives.    (Fall 2007)

The City Cemetery was created as a burial place for all Nashvillians in 1822.  Until private cemeteries began to appear during the mid-nineteenth century, black and white people alike found their final resting place here.  Although the private Mt. Ararat Cemetery for blacks opened after the Civil War, many prominent African Americans, including Fisk Jubilee Singers Ella Sheppard Moore and Mable Lewis Imes, politician Elias Polk, and philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, chose to be buried in City Cemetery.  Perhaps one-third of the interments here are those of African Americans, but, until now, very little research has focused on their lives and their contributions to Nashville.

Prior to the Civil War, the city's black population included both slaves and free people.  Many slaves are buried here.  For a researcher seeking an enslaved ancestor, the cemetery's interment records can be a great help.  (See below for links.)  The record includes the slave's first name, age, name of owner, and burial location.  Interment records of free black persons list much of the same information, as well as a last name, an occupation, and sometimes a useful note.  For example, when Jack Macon died in 1860, his record included the notation, "known as Dr. Jack."  Macon had an office on Water Street and advertised in the City Directory.

Slave Sally Thomas, permitted by her owner to operate her own business, gained freedom for her three sons and then for herself.  Her life is the subject of John Hope Franklin's book, In Search of the Promised Land.  She died in the cholera epidemic of 1850.

Photographs, from top: the three obelisks mark the graves of philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, her husband, and son; the gravestone of Jubilee Singer Mable Lewis Imes includes the name of Fisk University; the obelisk at the bottom of the page marks the final resting place of Cynthia Porter, a belived nurse.

The City Cemetery was created as a burial place for all Nashvillians in 1822.  Until private cemeteries began to appear during the mid-nineteenth century, black and white people alike found their final resting place here.  Although the private Mt. Ararat Cemetery for blacks opened after the Civil War, many prominent African Americans, including Fisk Jubilee Singers Ella Sheppard Moore and Mable Lewis Imes, politician Elias Polk, and philanthropist Lucinda Bedford, chose to be buried in City Cemetery.  Perhaps one-third of the interments here are those of African Americans, but, until now, very little research has focused on their lives and their contributions to Nashville.