Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1507211
T e l l i n g t h e S t o r i e s o f a N a t i o n B M & T ••• September/October 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 14 BY CALVIN STOVALL 250 BLACK AMERICA © OUR U.S. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL S cheduled for release in fall 2024, Hospitality Historiography is a coffee book illustration of hotel, motel, resort contributions of African- Americans beginning in the late 1700s until today. In summary the book is an inspirational journey through Black history through the lens of hospitality. An immense amount of research went into creating Hospitality Historiography including hundreds of old arti- cles in newspapers, magazines, and periodicals includ- ing some on microfiche, dating back to the mid-1800s. The original monograph, created in 1993 during my graduate studies at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, was about 100 pages and delved into Black experiences in hospitality including contributions in catering, hotel/motel and resort ownership. Most of the hospitality pioneers featured in Hospitality Historiography are virtually unknown to most folks, regardless of race, making its completion vital to our industry. Many of them were former slaves and during one of the most challenging periods for African- Americans in this nation, these Black entrepreneurs were able to accomplish the unimaginable - erect and operate thriving hotels. The entrepreneurial achieve- ments by African-Americans in this book are far more difficult for people to wrap their heads around because it flies directly in the face of everything most people have read about Black history. These entrepreneurs' level of focus, dedication and perseverance to develop a first-class hotel for their race because they couldn't stay in white-owned hotels will inspire anyone, regard- less of race, religion or origin. The first story in Hospitality Historiography begins dur- ing the 1770s with Rachael Pringle Polgreen; the first woman of color to own a hotel-tavern called the Royal Navy Hotel in Bridgetown, Barbados; then readers travel through an exhilarating time of Black hotel, motel and resort ownership spanning the Jim Crow era, Renaissance era of the 1920s-1930s through the Civil Rights era of the 1960s; culminating with a final chap- ter titled "Keepers of the Flame" featuring some of the hospitality pioneers of today. One story in Hospitality Historiography includes entre- preneur Joseph Lee, who during late 19th century, became one of the most well known African-American hotel proprietors and restaurateurs in New England. He along with his wife Christiana were true "masters of hospitality." In 1883, Lee owned and operated the Woodland Park Hotel. By 1886, Lee had become one of Newton's richest businessmen. The Woodland Park Hotel was well-respected and catered to distinguished guests and prominent members of Boston society and political figures including President Benjamin Harrison and his family, President Chester A. Arthur, and HOSPITALITY HISTORIOGRAPHY Hospitality Historiography: Inspiring Stories of African American Hoteliers, and Industry Pioneers Who Revolutionized the Hospitality Landscape