top of page

Wright Walker (1845-1921)

  • mhm977
  • Mar 31, 2023
  • 1 min read

Updated: Feb 6


Wright Walker, c.1900. (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.1, Collection of the Massillon Museum)
Wright Walker, c.1900. (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.1, Collection of the Massillon Museum)

Wright Walker (1845–1921) was born into slavery in Georgia. During the Civil War, he joined Union General Sherman as he marched through the South, and Walker became a freedman. After moving to New York for a short time, Walker relocated to Massillon with the local Jarvis family. Walker was always generous in his contributions to local churches and charities. He was well-known about town for his large top hat, which he even wore while mowing the grass. Upon his death, he left a few bequests to local organizations and made a $30,000 donation to the Tuskegee Institute, a college for African American students founded by Booker T. Washington.

Wright Walker with young Burt McLain, c.1915 (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.4A, Collection of the Massillon Museum)
Wright Walker with young Burt McLain, c.1915 (Gift of Sarita Van Vleck, 84.20.4A, Collection of the Massillon Museum)

The Tuskegeean, March 1931 Vol. 2 No. 1 (Collection of the Massillon Museum)
The Tuskegeean, March 1931 Vol. 2 No. 1 (Collection of the Massillon Museum)

 
 
 

Comments

Couldn’t Load Comments
It looks like there was a technical problem. Try reconnecting or refreshing the page.

Some contents within the Massillon Museum’s collection contain historical language and material some may consider offensive, including language used in reference to racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. Items included in this exhibition—their content and descriptions—reflect the time period during which they were created and the view of their creator. To view our full statement on potentially harmful content, please click here.

Supported in part by:

MHM - Full funder logos FINAL sm.jpg

Missing History of Massillon: Unheard African American Stories

© 2022-2023 Massillon Museum

bottom of page