100 Years of Black Business in Erie, Pennsylvania A Pictoral Essay

Abstract

The contribution of African-Americans to the local economy extends back almost two hundred years, to the earliest settlement of Erie County. From agriculture in the rural townships, to industry in the growing city of Erie, blacks played a part. Throughout the nineteenth century, in factories and foundries, along the bayfront, in domestic service, and in transportation, blacks found employment. As is true with most working class people, many of these individuals have not left much of a record of their lives other than their names and occupations found listed in City Directories and census records. It is hoped that as research on the topic continues, more information will surface to fill in the gaps in the story of the contribution made by these Erie County residents.