Project Lead
London Nelson Legacy Initiative
Jump to
The London Nelson Legacy Initiative is a collaboration between a Black-led citizen group and the MAH to research and share the stories of Black pioneers in pre-1900s Santa Cruz County.
Despite the integral role played by millions of African Americans in the growth and development of the United States, the history of Black people, their experiences and contributions, have been systematically erased.
The London Nelson Legacy Initiative is named after a Black man who was trafficked to the California Gold Rush as a slave, purchased his freedom, and settled in Santa Cruz. Years later, his name was misspelled (Louden) on a replacement headstone in Evergreen Cemetery, resulting in an error that has been perpetrated for nearly 100 years. The repercussions are significant—not the least of which being that his final resting place was rendered impossible for living descendants to locate.
In 2020, Brittnii Potter of Santa Cruz spearheaded a movement to correct the spelling of London Nelson’s name on local buildings, public spaces, and monuments. What was once the “Louden Nelson Community Center” has been renamed as of 2021, as has London Nelson Plaza. During the research phase, however, the renaming committee learned that 6 Black residents of early Santa Cruz were also buried in the cemetery—in plots 6 and 7, a potter’s field of burial places lacking identification—with subsequent investigation revealing at least 5 more. This type of erasure victimizes Black Americans, who continue to struggle with the burdens of systemic racism to this day.
Led by Santa Cruz resident, citizen historian, and activist Luna HighJohn-Bey, with support from key partners Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) and Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative (SCCBHMI), the team has collaborated to lay substantial groundwork for this initiative.
“The underpinnings of erasure and inequality in legislation, statistics, income disparities, and home ownership are rooted in historical erasure. Restorative justice in historical research is about excavating the stories of Black and Brown communities from the margins of historical records, and revealing our stories in the tapestry of time."
–Luna HighJohn-Bey
Header Image: Members of the London Nelson Memorial Committee gathered at Evergreen Cemetery, 1953, courtesy of Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History.
Project Team
Co-Researcher
Gabrielle Middlebrooks
Co-Researcher
Walter English
Research Project Manager
Lindsey Tavares-Sabido
Documentary Filmmaker
Tone Oliver
Related Blogs
Thu, Jun 18, 2020
History of Juneteenth: Part 1
Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the ending of the enslavement of African Americans – learn more about this moment in history and how it is celebrated in Santa Cruz.
Mon, Jun 1, 2020
Black Lives Matter: A Resource Guide
Don’t let this moment in history pass you by. Black lives matter. Read a statement from the MAH and browse resources to help you stay informed and create change.
Research Log
The research team identified 14 Black individuals buried at historic Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz.
Date of Birth: May 5, 1800
Birth Location: North Carolina
Arrival to California: 1850
Occupation: Cobbler Farmer
Address: Water Street, Downtown Santa Cruz
Date of Death: May 17, 1860
Age: 60
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: 1807
Birth Location: Barbados
Arrival to California: 1853
Occupation: Miner, Tailor
Address: Front Street Saloon Apartment
Date of Death: November 30, 1863
Age: 56
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: December 2, 1903
Birth Location: San Jose, California
Occupation: Child
Address: 138 Water Street, Downtown Santa Cruz
Date of Death: October 25, 1909
Age: 5
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: March 14, 1862
Birth Location: Missouri
Arrival to California: 1882
Occupation: Painter, Homebuilder
Address: 94 Barson Street, 83 Ocean Street
Date of Death: June 11, 1908
Age: 46
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Mississippi
Arrival to California: Unknown
Occupation: Civil War Veteran
Address: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: 1780
Birth Location: Denmark (alleged)
Arrival to California: 1849
Occupation: Miner, Whaler
Address: Asylum
Date of Death: October 19, 1884
Age: 104
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Tennessee
Arrival to California: Unknown
Occupation: Daughter of George Andrew Chester
Address: Laurel and Myrtle Streets
Date of Death: 1870s
Age: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: February 22, 1838
Birth Location: Philadelphia, PA
Arrival to California: 1856
Occupation: Miner, Cook, Business Owner
Address: 209 Front Street
Date of Death: April 23, 1914
Age: 76
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Tennessee
Arrival to California: 1856
Occupation: Wife to George Andrew Chester
Address: Laurel and Myrtle Streets, 209 Front Street
Date of Death: May 22, 1875
Age: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Unknown
Arrival to California: 1876
Occupation: Wife to George Andrew Chester
Address: Unknown
Date of Death: 1878
Age: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: 1820
Birth Location: Mercer County, Kentucky
Arrival to California: 1846
Occupation: Bootblack, Oysters Stand Owner
Address: Pacific Avenue
Date of Death: May 2, 1878
Age: 58
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Unknown
Arrival to California: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Address: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: 1814
Birth Location: Maryland
Arrival to California: 1880
Occupation: Unknown
Address: Pacific Ocean House
Date of Death: 1880
Age: 66
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Date of Birth: Unknown
Birth Location: Unknown
Arrival to California: Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Address: Unknown
Date of Death: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery
Gallery
Capt. William T. Shorey and his wife Julia-Shelton, daughters Zenobia and Victoria, ca. 1910, courtesy California Historical Society Portraits Collection.
Jim Skookum, one of the men to find the first claims of the Klondike gold rush, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Alvin Coffey, courtesy The Society of California of Pioneers.
An unidentified Black miner pans for gold in Calaveras County, California, 1852, via the Calaveras Enterprise.
Andrew and Sarah Monroe and family, seated portrait, 1890. El Dorado County Historical Museum, courtesy of California State Parks.
Get Involved
Contact Us
Please contact us if you want to learn more.
Funders
Major funding for the London Nelson Legacy Initiative is provided through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America program. Additional support provided by Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative, Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Rise Together Fund at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, and the History & Civics Project at UC Santa Cruz.
Support the MAH
Become a MAH Member or consider donating to help fuel important collaborations like the London Nelson Legacy Initiative.