Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1908-03-27
The Douglass Memorial Fund
Association.

An association. known as the Fred
rick Douglass Memorial and Historical
Association, has been formed to effect
this purpose. have been asked by the
officers of the Memorial Association to
assist in securing the comparatively
small sum Of money amounting to some
s5 400 and interest necessary to clear
of the mortgage on the property and so
secure the property for all time to the
Association and the Negro people OF
the United Statts'
The following letter, written to me
by the officers of the Fredrick Douglass
Memorial and Historical Association,
will make the situation clear:
Washington, D. c., December II, 1906.
Dear Mr.. Washington:
There is an encumbrance Of fifty-four
hundred dollars (s5. 4oO), bearing 6 per
cent interest, payable semi-annually
against the Douglass property. Tnis
property consists of about fourteen
acres in the heart of Apacostia. on
hill giving beautiful view of the Po'
tomac River and city for several miles
1t is the opinion of experts that when
when the Government completes the
new bridge and the reclamation of the
fats, this property will be worth at
, least $5, 900 an acre. Its actual worth
is now $1.50O an acre. 1t is exempt
from taxes by the act Of Congress in
| eorporting tho Fredrick Douglass Me-
mortal and Historical Association. The
| Association needs at least $5,4OO to lift
the mortgage. In the course OF time
lnbout nins acressof property could be
cut up into building lots and sold. and
with the proceeds of such sale Cedar
| Hill could be endowed with ample
| funds to meet the wants of the Doug.
lass Memorial Association in perpetu-
| ity.
(signed)
Archibald b. Grimke, President.
| Whitfield McKinly. Secretary.
Francis }. Grimke, Secretary.
Fredrick Douglass. to whom the Ne.
gro people owe, for the part he took in
securing our freedom, more than any
other man of our race, died in WASH
! ineton, D. C, February 20, 1898. We
do we'll to honor him as representa-
tive of our race. So long as the mem
orv of what he was and what he did
! remains, each one of US will stard
and count for more in the eyes of the
world than we would If he had not liv.
ed. Not merely by his work as an
! agitator and q statesman but by his
life and character he has raised every
member OF our race somewhat in the
espect of the world. We do well. re.
neat. to honor him who honored and
honors us.
We should make Cedar Hill to the
Negro people what Mount Vernon is to
the white race Prominent members OF
our race have already contributed or
pledged a considerable proportion of
the amount needed to make up the de-
sired sum. The time has now come for
us to appeal to the masses of the peo'
pie. Let every member OF our race
contribute his mite. We call particu
larly upon the churches axd the secret
orders, the Sunday schools apd all
other organizations that have not re-
sponded to tax e up collection in small
amounts and forward to me personally
at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. or to
the officers of the Douglass Memoria
Fund Association at Washington, with
the names of the givers as far as possi'
BILE and practicable,
,. (Signed)
Booker T. Washington,
Tuskegee Institute, Ala. March 20, '0S
| Tho t.Norp,ol NausH a monthly