Garnet Douglass Baltimore (1859 - 1946)

Born 15 Apr 1859 in Troy, Rensselaer, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary E. (Lane) Baltimore — married 18 Jun 1891 in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States

Died 12 Jun 1946 at age 87 in Troy, Rensselaer, New York, United States

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Biography

Garnet Baltimore is Notable.

Garnet Douglass Baltimore was the first African American graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The son of a barber and grandson of a slave, he became a highly accomplished civil engineer and landscape architect. Garnet dedicated his life's work to the betterment of the City of Troy, New York and surrounding areas.

Garnet was born on April 15, 1859 in Troy, New York. He was the son of Peter F. Baltimore, Sr. and Caroline A. Newcomb. He was named in honor of his father's friends abolitionists Rev. Henry Highland Garnet and Frederick Augustus Washington Douglass. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Garnet graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1881 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Garnet first job after graduation was working as an assistant engineer on the construction of a major area bridge. Throughout his career, he designed bridges, waterways, railroads and parks. His most noted project was the design and creation of Prospect Park in Troy. ^[4][5]

Garnet married Mary E. Lane on June 18, 1891 in Manhattan, New York. The couple made their home in Troy, New York. Garnet and Mary did not have any children. ^{[6] [7] [8][9]}

In addition to his numerous contributions to infrastructure and parklands, Garnet was also responsible for the design and layout of many cemeteries in the Capital District of New York including Oakwood Cemetery and Forest Park Cemetery in Troy, Graceland Cemetery in Albany as well as cemeteries in Glens Falls, Hoosick Falls and Amsterdam, New York. ^[10]

Garnet was also an eloquent and detailed writer who penned several articles for local newspapers. His submissions included an extensive article on Frederick Douglass and an article written his during illness just prior to his death entitled Sunshine in the Sick Room. ^{[11] [12]}

Garnet passed away in Troy, New York on June 12, 1946 in the home he was born in. He is buried in Troy in Oakwood Cemetery. ^[13][14]

An excerpt from an editorial written in the The Times Record on the day following Garnet's death in 1946 states "(t)here are citizens who become so valuable that race, religion, ancestry or any other divisive attribute is merged in the standard of service. Garnet D. Baltimore is not thought of in Troy by any narrower conception than that of Trojan. He was born here, educated here, practiced here, served the public here, died here." ^[15]

In his honor, The Garnet D. Baltimore Lecture Series was established in 1991 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Lectures focus on issues of equality and cultural diversity. RPI also established The Garnet D. Baltimore Endowed Scholarship "in response to the need for scholarships for students from underrepresented groups—including African American students and women— for generations to come." ^[16][17]

In 2005, a section of Eighth Street between Hoosick and Congress Streets that ends at the foot of Prospect Park in Troy, New York was named Garnet Douglass Baltimore Street. ^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Suzanne Spellen, Garnet Douglass Baltimore: Troy’s Landscape Master New York Almanac, 7 Sept 2020. (https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2020/09/garnet-douglass-baltimore-troys-landscape-master).
2. ↑ 1865 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1865", Census of the state of New York, for 1865. Microfilm. New York State Archives, Albany, New York; Line Number: 44; Page number: 37, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7218 #503057 (accessed 24 February 2023), D Douglas Baltimore (6) son in household of Peter F Baltimore (35) in Troy, Rensselaer, New York, USA.
3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Garnet Baltimore," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garnet_Baltimore&oldid=1080535448 (accessed February 24, 2023).
4. ↑ Honoring a Son of Troy, Rensselaer Alumni Magazine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Winter 2005-06, p. 28-35 (https://www.rpi.edu/magazine/winter2005-06/pdf/winter2005-06.pdf).
5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Prospect Park (Troy, New York)," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prospect_Park_(Troy,_New_York)&oldid=1122550692 (accessed February 25, 2023).
6. ↑ Marriage: "New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937", Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives, Ancestry Record 9105 #337425 (accessed 24 February 2023), Garnet D Baltimore marriage to Mary E Lane on 18 Jun 1891 in Manhattan, New York, USA.
7. ↑ Desdemona in Real Life, The Evening World, N. Y., 26 Jun 1891, p.1 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/78676164/?focus=0.2536541%2C0.8386851%2C0.3663491%2C0.9749812&xid=3398&_gl=1%2a1bggrfb%2a_ga%2aMTE2NjExMjkwNi4xNjc3MjY3MDcx%2a_ga_4QT8FMEX30%2aMTY3NzI4MTE3My4zLjEuMTY3NzI4MTcxNS4xOC4wLjA.%2a_ga_B2YGR3SSMB%2aZjcxYjk1ODMtZDViOS00YWZjLWJlNDUtMmRiYTAwZjBiMzYwLjMuMS4xNjc3MjgxNzE1LjE4LjAuMA..&_ga=2.225870931.870079028.1677267071-1166112906.1677267071&ancestry=true).
8. ↑ 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census", Year: 1910; Census Place: Troy Ward 4, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: T624_1070; Page: 28B; Enumeration District: 0048; FHL microfilm: 1375083, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #19796785 (accessed 24 February 2023), Garnet D Baltimore (51), married, Civil Engineer, head of household in Troy Ward 4, Rensselaer, New York, USA. Born in New York.
9. ↑ 1915 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1915", New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 03; Assembly District: 01; City: Troy Ward 02; County: Rensselaer; Page: 26; Line Number: 29, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2703 #4999416 (accessed 24 February 2023), Garnet D Baltimore (56) head of household in Troy Ward 02, Rensselaer. Born in United States.
10. ↑ Veteran Engineer Observes Date of 84th Anniversary, The Times Record, Troy, N.Y., 16 April 1943, p. 22 (https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FLogin_18%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201943%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201943%2520-%25202002.pdf%23xml%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D3a85c07e%26stgd%3Dyes%26DocId%3D3539198%26request%3D%2522garnet%2520d%2520baltimore%2522%26index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520E%26searchFlags%3D16783616%26autoStopLimit%3D50%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FLogin_18%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201943%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201943%2520-%25202002.pdf&xml=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D3a85c07e%26stgd%3Dyes%26DocId%3D3539198%26request%3D%2522garnet%2520d%2520baltimore%2522%26index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520E%26searchFlags%3D16783616%26autoStopLimit%3D50%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false)
11. ↑ Garnet D. Baltimore, Fred'k Douglass Apostle of Race, The Troy Times, p. 10, 27 Jan 1933.
12. ↑ Garnet D. Baltimore, Sunshine in the Sickroom, The Times Record, Troy, NY, 7 Feb 1946.
13. ↑ Death: "New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956", New York Department of Health; Albany, NY; NY State Death Index, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61535 #1465995 (accessed 24 February 2023), Garnet D Baltimore death 12 Jun 1946 (age 87) in Troy, New York, USA.
14. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/24579482/garnet-douglass-baltimore: accessed 24 February 2023), memorial page for Garnet Douglass Baltimore (15 Apr 1859–12 Jun 1946), Find A Grave: Memorial #24579482, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, Rensselaer County, New York, USA; Maintained by B Rozpad (contributor 50074804).
15. ↑ Editorial on Garnet D. Baltimore, The Times Record, Troy, N.Y., 13 Jun 1946.
16. ↑ Suzanne Spellen, Garnet Douglass Baltimore: A Son of Troy Pt. 2, Our Time Press, (https://ourtimepress.com/garnet-douglass-baltimore-a-son-of-troy-pt-2).
17. ↑ Scholarship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (https://giving.rpi.edu/scholarship).
18. ↑ Weber, E. (2018, July 07). Garnet Douglass Baltimore (1859-1946). BlackPast.org.(https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/baltimore-garnet-douglass-1859-1946).

• Wikidata Item: Q5523631

See Also

Edgar S. Van Olinda, Around the Town, Albany Times Union, 25 Jun 1946, p. 1.