Vision
This project, which is designed to commemorate the 150 and 100-year anniversaries of the fifteenth and nineteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution, respectively, will include educational workshops, performances by living history characters, and scholarly book talks. A special focal point will be commemorating the history and passing of the Old Eighth Ward, once the most ethnically diverse section of the city and the heart of the African-American community. It was demolished by state order in 1911 to begin construction of the Pennsylvania Capital Complex. This 15th Amendment Monument will celebrate the individual stories of the inhabitants of the Old Eighth, as exemplified by Frances Harper, Jacob Compton, T. Morris Chester, and William Howard Day. Educational and lifelong learning experiences support the installation which devote time to community conversations about the nature of the common good and the forces that define it, and culminate in the dedication of a new inscription and monument to Harrisburg’s African-American citizens on state capitol grounds.
Goals
This celebration will commemorate the 150 and 100-year anniversaries of the fifteenth and nineteenth amendments, respectively, including:
- educational workshops
- performances by living history characters
- scholarly book talks
- the design and installation of the 15th Amendment Monument showcasing four key historical figures and
- a special pedestal honoring the historic Old Eighth Ward
Sponsorship Opportunities
Jacob Compton Level:
- $100 – $249
Thomas Chester Level:
- $250 – $1000
William Howard Day Level:
- $1,001 – $4,999
Frances Harper Level:
- $5,000 and above
