Yale Slavery Tour

John Pierpont

minister of New Haven's first church; one of ten Yale minuster founders; wife was granddaughter of Thomas Hooker and enslaved Jethro of Jethro's corner

Center Church

oldest new haven church; two black men Pennington and Crummell received first degrees but treatment wasn't fair

John Davenport - glass window in Center Church

popular preacher who fled england and went from mass bay to found "Newhaven", advocate for formation of college; one of first slaveholders

New Haven State House

old State house from 1831-1889. In 1831, black coalition formed to establish first black college, lost vote 4-700. Yale alumni and leaders opposed formation

Connecticut Hall

oldest brick building in CT, and oldest building in Yale. Built by white workers, enslaved and free black workers. Jethro helped build it after being freed.

Statue of Theodore Dwight Woolsey

1820 valedictorian who simultaneously became minister and Yale president (yale was very puritan back then). helped found anti-slavery union and African improvement societies in new haven. Initially was pro-colonization but became fully abolitionist. Supported south secession b/c he believed it could end slavery, but publicly was non-partisan because Yale fighting in both sides in civil war. His boot is gold on the statue, and touching it is considered lucky because the Yale rowing teams would win only when he tapped them with his boot

Statue of Abraham Pierson

reverend who became first "rector" in 1701, essentially the president of Yale before they called it president. Was likely a slaveholder