A00146 - Revised 2025 Amherst College Black Alumni Memorial List for November 6, 2025

 Deceased Black Alumni

1826 

Edward Jones

1844 

Pelleman Williams 

1877

Madison Smith 

Charles Sumner Wilson 

1878

Charles Henry Moore 

1879

Wiley Lane 

1883

Wilbert Blanchard Lew

1892 

George Washington Forbes 

William Tecumseh Sherman Jackson 

William Henry Lewis 

1898 

James Francis Gregory

1901

George David Jenifer

1905 

Robert Sinclair Hartgrove

Robert Henry Meriwether

1906

Robert Nicholas Mattingly

1907

James LeCount Chestnut

George Willard Johnson

1909

James Blaine Hunter

Edward Foster Newport

1911

Thomas Desire Pawley

John Randolph Pinkett

1912

Benoni Price Hurst

1915

Charles Hamilton Houston

1916

Frances Morse Dent

1918

John Bertram Garrett

1920

Frederick Allen Parker

1921

Robert Percy Barnes

1922 

Samuel George Elbert

1923 

George Nolen Calloway

Charles Dudley Lee

Charles William Lewis

1925

William Montague Cobb

Will Mercer Cook

Benjamin Jefferson Davis

George Winston Harry

William Henry Hastie

1926

Robert Tillinghurst Curtis

Thurman Luce Dodson

Charles Richard Drew

George Edgar Gilmer

William Charles Thomas

1927

Chauncey Baker Larry

Guichard B. Parris 

Hollis Freeman Price

1928

Clarence Reed White

1929

Harold Over Lewis 

Ulysses Grant Mason, Jr.

Jonathan Edward Reed

David Willis Utz

George Costin Williams

1930

Joseph Clarence Chambers, Jr.

Joseph Hoskins Harris

1931

Carl Curtis Beckwith

Max Ganey Bowens

1933

James Alphonso Curtis

1934

Donald Gaines Murray 

Harry Greene Risher

1938

Elvin Harry Wanzo

Albert Nathaniel Whiting 

1940

Highwarden Just 

1943

John Hurst II 

1948

John Gaines Gloster 

Richard Brown Highbaugh 

Cyril Archibald Johnson 

1949

Toussaint Timothy Tildon, Jr.

1951

Mercer Cook III

Thomas Woodrow Gibbs III 

1952

Kenneth A. Brown 

Ulric St. Claire Haynes

 

1953 

Amon Nikoi 

1954 

Fred Austin Culver 

1955

Frederick Earl McLendon, Jr. 

1956

Norman Carey Amaker 

Karl Sinclair Atkinson 

Ralph Edward Greene 

1957

Harold Cornelius Haizlip 

Marshall Rudd Holley 

1958

Edward David Crockett, Jr.

1959

Lawrence Rogers Burwell           

Isaiah T. Creswell, Jr.

Robert Stewart Jason, Jr.

1960

Leon Joseph Du Bois                   

James S. Jackson, Jr.

1961

Theodore Charles Jones

Fred Lewis Wallace

1962

Edward Theodore Johnson, Jr.

1963

Benjamin Elisha Boyce

Leon Buster Gibbs

1965

Julian Raymond Davis, Jr.

1967

Jidlaph Gitau Kamoche

1968

Daniel Chester Cochran

Carl Anthony Galloway

Jaafar Kassem-Ali

William Clarence Robinson III

Harold Wade, Jr.

1970 

Jamson Sulemani Lwebuga-Mukasa

Uthman F. Muhammad (Calvin Peter S. Ward, Jr.)

Lawrence Carey Ragland

1971

Joseph Emerett Sidney Compton III

 Joaquin Bradford Haley

1972 

Gregory Allen Domingue

Henry Hart

John Howard Nesbitt

Arthur Carroll Wilkins

1973 

Sidney James Davis, Jr.

George Thomas Glover

Isaac Anthony Harris, Jr.

George Robert Johnson, Jr.

Raffaela Tamara Johnson

Rudolf Lawrence Raines

William Daniel Wooten, Jr.

1974

Floyd Cummings, Jr. (Graduated with Class of 1976)

Kenneth Glover

Franklin Owens, Jr.                   

Michael Jerome Pierce

Ronald Stephen Sampson

Hector Lloyd Armando Scott

Arthur George Shay

1975

Thomas Harrison Hooper III

Mark Anthony McArthur

Edward Sommerville McCatty

Joseph Michael Miller

Gerald Wayne Stover                    

Robert Willingham Yancey           

1976 

Floyd Cummings, Jr.

David Lawrence Holmes

Jack Wade Jenkins

Ronald Lee Nabrit

Ronald Heribert Ware

Kenneth Gray Willoughby

1977

Quentin Frederick Atherley

Lucia Irene Butts

David Menilek Goodwin       

Shelton Joyner, Jr.

Lloyd James Miller

Gerald Gilbert Anthony Penny

Michael Paul Whittingham

1978

Otho Wells Artis, II

Lawrence Edward Baugh

Charles Edward Blair 

Steven M. Coleman

Jonathan Clark Gatlin

Woodrow Alque Pinder, Jr.

John David Williams, Jr. 

1979

Darryl Nathaniel Harrison

Gregory Nelson

1980

Robert John Ellis, Jr.

Gregory Ivan Johnson

1981

James Corey De Pina

Julie Laurynn (Keith) Jarrett

David Gerald McLeod

Eric Nathaniel Miller

Charles Homer Riley, Jr.

Michael Anthony Joseph Thomas

1983

Beverly Elaine Allen

1984

Leopold W. Giscombe

Yvette Cecilia Mendez

Margaret Rose Vendryes              

1985

Royal Lester Allen III

1987

Anthony Michael George

Steve Lawrence Joseph

Christopher David Manuel 

Etta Patricia (Johnson) Milton

1989

Kevin Lawrence Frazier

1990

Paul Kwesi Bilson

1991

Derrick Andrew Lawrence           

1996

Daina M. Howell

1997

Tara Christine (Goins) Brennan

Elizabeth Delilah Fairfax

Monet Elise Hilson

Nicole D. Scott

David Christopher Simms

1998

Jason Bradley Anderson

2000

Dana Alexis Perry-Hunter         

Alissa Suzanne Wilson

2003

Kwesi A. Christopher

2005

Renee Marika Chung                    

Christopher W. Hunter

2006

Marc A. Fuller

2009

Chike Bartholomew Nnaji       

2011

Jordan A. Moore-Fields

2013

Omar Wallace Brown, Jr.   

Stefan Brian Henry Edwards

2014

Robert Frank Gooden III

Reyane Nafi Jeni Mbaye     

2015

Lydia B. Nampeera

Morgan Ashly Venezia    

2024             

Kiiren Aamer Jackson

Faculty

Marion Brown

Mavis Christine Campbell

Asa Davis 

James Quincy Denton

Jeffrey B. Ferguson

Lucius Weathersby

Staff

Elizabeth "Liz" Agosto

Chaka Ajene

Gertrude Batie

Robert Bosworth

Adolphus Butler 

Luther Chaney

Joseph Cooper

Bobby Dodd

William Fisher

Barbara Forrest

Sabe Hairston

David Key

Genalvin Morse

Alexander Morton

F. Dwight Newport

Richard McDougald O'Daniel

Robert Gilbert Roberts

Fran Taylor-Anderson

Charles "Professor Charley" Thompson

Mable Whitehead

James Whitner

Reginald Young

The Civil War Soldiers

Joseph Evins

Charles Finnemore

Sanford Jackson

William Jennings

Genalvin Morse

Charles Thompson (Professor Charley)

Christopher Thompson

James Thompson

John Thompson

The Honorary Amherst College Friends

Those Amherst College Alumni, Students, Faculty and Staff Who Fought to Abolish Slavery During the Civil War

Robert C. Follette, Jr., Amherst College Employee - Friend of Amherst College Black Alumni (Long Time Director of Valentine Dining Hall)

Frank Alvan Hosmer (Born November 14, 1853; Amherst College Class of 1875); Ninth President of Punahou School [the Alma Mater of Barack Obama]; Great Barrington High School Educator Who Inspired W. E. B. DuBois to Pursue a College Education: Died May 28, 1918)

Kenneth Joseph Howard (Amherst College Class of 1966), "The White Shadow" of Manhasset High School (Manhasset, New York), Television's "The White Shadow" and Pudd'nhead Wilson and the President of Screen Actors Guild

Charles Milson Stillman (Amherst College Class of 1967), Descendant of Founder of Stillman College, a HBCU; Long-Time Trustee of Stillman College; Two Million Dollar Benefactor of Stillman College

Henry Martin Tupper (Born April 11, 1831; Amherst College Class of 1859; European American Founder of Shaw University, the Second Oldest Historically Black College and University [HBCU]; Died November 12, 1893)

David W. Wills (Amherst College Professor of Religion) The General Editor of African American Religion: A Documentary History Project 

The Honorary Amherst Alumni

Robert Purvis (African American Abolitionist Who Most Likely Attended Amherst Academy)

The Town of Amherst Friends

Yvonne John

Amos Newport

A00145 - New Additions to the List Since 2021

 Deceased Black Alumni

1901

George David Jenifer

1905 

Robert Henry Meriwether

1907

George Willard Johnson

1909

Edward Foster Newport

1923 

George Nolen Calloway

Charles Dudley Lee

1925

George Winston Harry

1926

Robert Tillinghurst Curtis

George Edgar Gilmer

William Charles Thomas 

1929

Ulysses Grant Mason, Jr.

Jonathan Edward Reed

1930

Joseph Hoskins Harris

1931

Carl Curtis Beckwith

Max Ganey Bowens

1934 

Harry Greene Risher

1940

Highwarden Just 

1949

Toussaint Timothy Tildon, Jr. 

1959

Lawrence Rogers Burwell           

1960

Leon Joseph Du Bois                   

James S. Jackson, Jr.

1961

Theodore Charles Jones

1965

Julian Raymond Davis, Jr.

1967

Jidlaph Gitau Kamoche

1968

Jaafar Kassem-Ali

1970 

Jamson Sulemani Lwebuga-Mukasa

1974

Franklin Owens, Jr.                   

1975

Edward Sommerville McCatty

Gerald Wayne Stover                    

Robert Willingham Yancey           

1977

Quentin Frederick Atherley

David Menilek Goodwin       

1978

Otho Wells Artis, II

1983

Beverly Elaine Allen

1984

Margaret Rose Vendryes              

1991

Derrick Andrew Lawrence           

2000

Dana Alexis Perry-Hunter         

2005

Renee Marika Chung                    

2009

Chike Bartholomew Nnaji       

2013

Omar Wallace Brown, Jr.   

2014

Reyane Nafi Jeni Mbaye     

2015

Morgan Ashly Venezia    

2024             

Kiiren Aamer Jackson

Faculty

Staff

Elizabeth "Liz" Agosto

Alexander Morton

Richard McDougald O'Daniel

Robert Gilbert Roberts

The Honorary Amherst College Friends

Robert C. Follette, Jr., Amherst College Employee - Friend of Amherst College Black Alumni (Long Time Director of Valentine Dining Hall)

Kenneth Joseph Howard (Amherst College Class of 1966), "The White Shadow" of Manhasset High School (Manhasset, New York), Television's "The White Shadow" and Pudd'nhead Wilson and the President of Screen Actors Guild

Charles Milson Stillman (Amherst College Class of 1967), Descendant of Founder of Stillman College, a HBCU; Long-Time Trustee of Stillman College; Two Million Dollar Benefactor of Stillman College

David W. Wills (Amherst College Professor of Religion) The General Editor of the African American Religion: A Documentary History Project 

The Town of Amherst Friends

Amos Newport

A00144 - Kiiren Aamer Jackson, Amherst College Class of 2024,

 

College, Art Communities Mourn Passing of Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24

Anna Wang '28

Oct 15, 20252 min

Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24, a much-loved artist during his time at Amherst, passed away on Saturday. Current students and professors fondly remember Jackson's bright personality and his contributions to events such as the Black Art Matters Festival and the 2024 Spring Concert.

Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24 has left a unique legacy at Amherst through his music and performances that sought to showcase his authentic self. Photo courtesy of Maria Stenzel.

Kiiren Aamer Jackson ’24, a rapper and music producer, passed away on Saturday. His death was confirmed by WKCR-FM, a New York City-based radio station. 

During his time at Amherst, Jackson was a Black Studies major on the pre-med track. In his profile with The Student, Jackson describes his music as “literally everywhere … YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, everything.” His music, influenced by artists such as Kendrick Lamar and the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, centers around “unapologetically” being himself — presenting his authentic self on several levels. He was an avid performer at Amherst’s Coffee Haus, Harlem Renaissance, Black Art Matters (BAM) Festival, and was the opener for the 2024 Spring Concert. The Amherst College Black Student Union and Amherst College African and Caribbean Student Union co-wrote an article in The Student, with over 150 students signing their names to it, arguing that Jackson should have received higher compensation for the gig. 

Jackson left his mark at Amherst. “I think it’s beautiful that you can come into this place that was not made for you, that wasn’t designed for you, and unapologetically be yourself,” Jackson said in his role as master of ceremonies for BAM 2022, preparing to rap at the Mead Art Museum. Assistant Professor of English Frank Leon Roberts wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday that “Black Genius is precisely what he was: a glowing, shining star with fierce intellect, undeniable talent, expansive empathy, and all around good-guy character.” Jackson was the first student to enroll in Roberts’s first seminar and a regular at his office hours, sharing memories from Queens and debating over Lamar.

Jackson is well-remembered among current students as well. Willow Delp ’26 describes Jackson as someone who “brought joy and light to every space he was in” and “changed campus culture for the better, particularly for students of color.” Delp fondly remembers Jackson “hyping [them] up” and making them “feel so proud” of their work at BAM 2024.

“Kiiren was an extraordinary person who[m] I am incredibly grateful to have known for even a couple years,” Delp said. “He cared deeply about his music, and he was an extremely talented artist. I’ve been listening to his music, and it brings me comfort in knowing that his artistry survives and continues to inspire.”

After graduation, Jackson proceeded to join Legendary Cyphers, a hip-hop group that performs weekly in New York City, where he was honored as Rookie of the Year in 2024. Since February 2025, Jackson has worked as the assistant director of after-school at Mosholu Montefiore Community Center — the largest nonprofit provider of health, education, and employment for underserved communities in the North Bronx. He had also interned at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine during summer 2022, and worked as an undergraduate at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center during summer 2023.

Jackson will be truly missed by his communities both here and beyond.

A00144 - Gregory Allen Domingue, Amherst College Class of 1972, Southern University Lab School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Eternal Soul Brother

 

In Memory

Image

Gregory Allen Domingue, my “Soul Brother,” died in Houston, Texas, on May 28, 2014, from complications associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Greg was born on August 16, 1950, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was the middle child of seven siblings born to Catherine Iona Domingue and Paul Blaine Domingue Sr.

Greg was one of 16 Black students admitted to Amherst in 1968, the first class admitted after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sixteen Black students is a relatively small number by today's standards, but it is a number which nearly doubled the Black student population at Amherst. According to his classmate and sophomore-year roommate, Russell Williams ’72, Greg was involved in many of the discussions and activities that raised racial and regional awareness at Amherst, contributing to an expansion of self-reflection and social understandings, and positively transforming academic content at the college for all the classes that followed.

Being three years behind Greg, I only vaguely recall Greg from our days at Amherst. Greg was in the class of 1972 while I was in the class of 1975, so he was concentrating on leaving while I was concentrating on arriving. However, over the last three years, Greg and I have engaged in many exchanges on the Black Alumni listserv ... and off it. Indeed, I was the one who recruited Greg to serve as the lead moderator of the original Black Alumni Listserv Moderator Panel and, in that role, Greg was perfect in helping to “moderate” the tone and focus of the medium.

Quite frankly, what drew me most to Greg was his spiritual side. He and I shared a profound spiritual link, and I was fortunate enough to receive a number of the religious notes that he prepared on an almost daily basis for his family and his friends. He was a very good man and a very deep thinker on religious matters. As one of our fellow listserv participants, Dr. Harold Massey ’80, wrote:

“There are some people who, even without direct personal acquaintance, exude a peace and grace that define the Divinity inherent in both of these powers. Greg Domingue spoke meaningfully to us from his ‘PRAYER GARDEN’ and from his heart; we heard his soul’s compassion and his highest hopes for humanity. We learned his rich personal history but, more importantly, he invited us into his humble heart to learn how he made powerful sense of his cherished family legacy and his worldly engagements. Even in cyberspace, I knew Greg was a gentle man who embodied far more than the etiquette and protocols that long since have distilled the term to ‘gentleman,’ a far lesser spirit than he breathed into life with his own. Greg and I shared some off-line exchanges that served only to reinforce all that I had sensed of his love and compassion through his written words in computer-mediated community. Here's an observation he shared about this forum:

“My participation in the listserv is a surprise to me because I have always been more of an observer than participant. ... The amount of talking I’ve done in the cyberworld is a really big surprise to me—but I got addicted early on and couldn’t stop. Some of the relationships established during this time have become very important—one of the things that I regret is that I did not maintain contact with high school friends, and with college friends. ... So what I’ve done on the listserv is to recapture some lost time.”

“I was humbled by Greg’s sharing about his abiding and faithful love for his dear wife, Betty (to have celebrated 30 years this October to my calculation), and his two daughters, Aisha and Nina, from an earlier marriage that ended with the death of their first mother at four years and seven months old. ... Greg also spoke regretfully of the geographical distance that interfered with more frequent physical time with his grandchildren in Cleveland and Brooklyn. He was proud of Nina Domingue-Glover’s artistry, especially the one-woman show she wrote and produced and excelled to perform in New York. He was equally gushing about Aisha’s son and his healthy diet, Aisha’s frugal and focused patience in serving battered women, and her disciplined saving of her money while working three part-time jobs until she found the fulfilling role she needed for a meaningful life. Greg was chock full of gratitude for each and every relationship he created or encountered and his fruit hasn’t fallen far from his tree!”

As a confirmation of Harold’s observations, Greg’s fellow Amherst classmate and one time roommate, Russell Williams ’72, said upon receiving news of Greg's passing:

“I received the notice of Greg’s passing through the Amherst Black Alumni listserv, and was greatly surprised, saddened, and dismayed. Greg was a classmate, a roommate of mine during our sophomore year, a friend, a sometimes confidant, and one of the alums with whom I felt I could communicate most straightforwardly—with knowledge that his responsive comments and insights would be expressed with thoughtfulness, wisdom, caring, and (often) humor. We had many deep, heartfelt, and unique conversations. I will TRULY, TRULY miss him.”

As was evidenced over the years, Greg was an avid writer and for a time, a contributor to the New Orleans Tribune, interviewing and reviewing the books of many great African-American authors. He was also a faithful servant to the Ralph Douglas West Encouragement Ministry at Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas.

Greg’s family reports that Greg was encouraging until the very end. Though many thought he was a quiet person, to those who knew him well, he was full of love and life, and always had a joke to spare. He often surprised family members and friends by doing things like playing Santa, taking teddy bears for ransom and starting water gun fights. He loved music and movies and shared many inside jokes with Betty and the girls, which they expressed in quotes from his favorite movies. He was very competitive when it came to playing games. Indeed, Greg came in third in the Inaugural Quest for the Cup Black Alumni Football Prognostication Contest, edging out the author of this note. All in all, Greg generally enjoyed a good time with family and friends. He was affectionately known as “Uncle Critter.”

Greg is survived by his loving wife, Betty Marie Domingue; two daughters: Nina Domingue Glover and Aisha Domingue; a son-in-law, Johnathan Glover; five grandchildren, Jinle, Jahi, Neliah, and Narien Glover, and Lamine Gordon; his six siblings: Paul Blaine Jr. (Aster), Marie Lorraine (Jeff Sr.), Gerald (Gwendolyn), Charles Steven (Denise), Monica (Neil), and Olivia (Greg); and a host of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Greg was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his daughters, Thelisa Jane Corbin Domingue, Smith ’73; his parents, Paul Blaine Domingue Sr. and Catherine Iona Domingue; his nephew, Brian Paul Domingue; and his great-nephew Nehemiah Darensbourg.

Perhaps, it is most fitting to allow Greg to sum up the meaning of life himself. Greg wrote:

“So what do we learn here? We learn that our feelings and limited thinking should not interfere in God’s plan. We learn that God gives us the grace to do what He has assigned to us. We learn that we are the person He created us to be, and it is up to us to be that person, so that in the end, the glory belongs to God, and we have ‘endured hardship,’ done the work of an evangelist, and fulfilled our ministry (2 Timothy 4:5). And finally, what we learn is that the only response to who we are and what we do, is to hear God say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23).’”

Well said, my brother, ... and well done.

Everett “Skip” Jenkins ’75
With assistance from Russell Williams ’72, Aisha Domingue and Ellis Moss ’79

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

The spiritual bond between Greg and I continues.to this day.  Each time I return to Amherst College, I perform a Black Alumni Memorial Service and each time I do, I read a prayer that Greg wrote which reads as follows:

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

A PRAYER BY GREG DOMINGUE, CLASS OF 1972

Lord God, Creator and Master of the Universe, we come to you humbly in prayer.  We thank you for your grace and mercy.  We ask for more of your grace on all the alumni and students of Amherst who are here.  We ask your blessings also on those who could not be here but are with us in spirit.  We thank you for the opportunity to attend Amherst.

Today we ask your blessing on the college, on the professors and the students of Amherst.  In particular, we ask your blessings on the graduates this year. 

We pray, Lord, that you will guide them in their careers, in the world and especially in their families.  Let them be a guiding light for all creation.  Let them make a difference in our world, in our country and to everyone they meet.

Amen.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Amen, indeed.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

Class of 1975

October 15, 2025

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Contact

No data available

Family

Amherst Relatives

• Betty M. Domingue W'72

Personal

About Me

• Wife's name Betty Domingue. Two daughters - Nina Domingue-Glover, and Aisha Domingue. 4 Grandchildren

Interests

• most important interest is the Bible.

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Professional

Employment Information

Former

• Buyer

  Krauss Company, Ltd.

  Start:

  01/1993

  End:

  01/2000
• Area Manager

  D H Holmes Company Ltd

  Start:

  01/1980

  End:

  01/1993

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Amherst

Reunion Class

• 1972

Graduation Year

• 1972

Major(s)

• Black Studies

Other Academic

Secondary Schools

• Southern University Lab School

Higher Ed

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  Field of Study:

  English

  Degree:

  Unknown Degree

  Year:

  1974

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Amherst

Fraternity

• Independent (no fraternity affil)

Post-Graduate

Publications/ Creative Works

• Aut-Poetry & Short Stories in Small Lit Mags

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

A00143 - The Newports of Amherst

 Jack,

Thank you for the info on the Newports of Amherst.  I did not know this history, but now, thanks to you and to the dear Professor Robert Romer, I now have a clearer understanding of who they are.  On my Memorial List, I currently have the name of F. Dwight Newport listed as one of the Black Amherst College Staff Members who should be remembered.  Now, based on your work and the work of Professor Romer, I will be adding the names of Amos Newport and Edward Foster Newport, Class of 1909, to my Memorial List.  Below is the article written by Professor Romer which is a treasure.

I am indebted to you both.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

Class of 1975

October 6, 2025

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

The Untold Story of Newport House | College Row | Amherst College

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

The Untold Story of Newport House

• 2010: Fall

8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

A dorm named for descendants of a slave who sued for his freedom

By Robert H. Romer ’52

Zion Chapel was built in 1869 on land provided by Amherst College on the site where Newport House now stands "so that the colored people of the town will have a place to worship." In the early 1900s the congregation of Zion Chapel divided, some members moving down Woodside Avenue to form the A.M.E. Zion Church, others moving to Gaylord Street, where they built Hope Congregational (now Hope Community) Church. Both Dwight and Edward Newport were founding members of Hope Church.

Those who pass Newport House, a college dormitory at the corner of Woodside Avenue and Northampton Road—if they notice the name of the building at all—probably have no idea that the name is a reminder of our colonial past, of a time when slavery was widespread in Western Massachusetts. The building is named for two descendants of Amos Newport, a slave who, through his efforts to become free, made a difference in the history of our state.

Amos was born in Africa about 1715, captured as a boy and taken to America on a slave ship. He arrived in Springfield as the property of David Ingersoll, who sold him in 1729 to Joseph Billing of Hatfield. Very little is known about Amos’s life in Hatfield, except for the very important fact that in 1766 Amos decided that he did not want to be a slave any longer and went to court to sue for his freedom.

There were a number of “freedom suits” by Massachusetts slaves at this time, many of which were successful, often because the slave had evidence that a previous owner had promised him his freedom. But Amos made no such claim—he simply wanted to be free. The owner produced a bill of sale, properly executed and witnessed: “I David Ingersoll ... have sold & delivered a certain young Negro Boy ... for fifty pounds to Joseph Billing of Hatfield ... .” The jury had no choice but to conclude that Amos was indeed a slave belonging to Joseph Billing. Amos, not easily deterred, appealed to the highest court in the province, which simply affirmed the decision of the lower court and declared that “the said Amos was not a freeman as he alleged but the proper Slave of the said Joseph ... .” Amos never did become free, but filing those two court cases probably contributed in some small way to the gradual ending of slavery in Massachusetts during the last two decades of the 1700s.

Amos’s son did become free, and by the mid-1800s there were Newports living in Amherst. (Of all the slaves who lived in this valley in the 1700s, very few had surnames—almost always simply names assigned by the owner, such as Caesar or Jenny or Pompey. If not for the fact that Amos, even as a slave, had a surname, it would be nearly impossible to trace his descendants.) Amos’s great-great-grandson, F. Dwight Newport, was an athletic trainer and boxing instructor at Amherst, and his son, Edward Foster Newport, attended the college for two years as a member of the Class of 1909, became an athletic trainer like his father and was, for many years, custodian at the Phi Delta Theta (later Phi Delta Sigma) fraternity. In 1984 Amherst abolished fraternities and named the old houses, now dormitories, in honor of people who had been associated with the college and with that fraternity. And thus the dormitory was named Newport House, in honor of those two men.

After I finished my 2009 book, Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts (Levellers Press), I tried to find out where and when Amos arrived in America and how he came to Springfield. Perhaps he arrived on a slave ship in Newport, R.I., and that was how he acquired his surname, but I have found no evidence to support this speculation. I have been more successful at discovering further descendants. Until about 1990 there were Newports living in Amherst. One of my sons remembers a Newport girl from grade school. Then I met—by e-mail—further generations of Newports. And a year ago a fifth-grader in California wrote a school report about her great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Amos, using my book as a source.

Next time you approach the traffic light by College Hall as you drive into Amherst from Northampton, look to your right at Newport House and think about Amos Newport, who lived a life of consequence in this valley 250 years ago.  

Photo courtesy of Amherst College Archives and Special Collections  

Tags:  newport  slavery  newport house  Slavery in the Connecticut Valley of Massachusetts  Robert Romer  Robert Romer '52  Romer 

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

On Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 08:26:35 PM PDT, Jack Hailey <jack@gacinstitute.org> wrote:

Everett, do you already have this father-son pair in your list?  I am working my way back through your blog and am not yet at 1909 and before.

 

I found two photographs of Dwight Newport in the 1898 and 1899 Olios, posing with the Athletic Association.  Then I found notes about his working for the college for more than 45 years.  His son, Edward, attended the college for two years then joined the staff and also worked at Amherst for a long time.  When fraternities were abolished, the Phi Delt house was renamed Newport House for the family.   Dwight Newport’s great-great grandfather, Amos Newport, was enslaved probably in the 1710s and his descendants settled in Amherst.

 

Jack