The Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) of Western Pennsylvania is the most colorful tile in our mosaic of 43 ASALH Branches. The McKenzie Branch has engaged members in seven states and the District of Columbia.
The Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch, ASALH was named in honor of Dr. Edna B. McKenzie who was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in the history Department at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. McKenzie was a pioneering journalist, well known for her work with the Pittsburgh Courier. She was an educator, historian, prominent advocate for human rights and a devoted ASALH lifetime member. As an executive council member she was instrumental in advocating for the 1976 presidential proclamation of Black History Month. The Inauguration of the McKenzie Branch took place on October 13, 2012
ASALH was founded in 1915 in Chicago Illinois by the recognized esteemed “godfather” of Black History, Dr. Carter G. Woodson.
The Mission of ASALH is to promote, research, preserve, Interpret, and disseminate Information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.
In 2022 the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch was awarded with ASALH’s prestigious Branch of The Year.
The McKenzie Branch, in 2018, adopted Negro Mountain in Garrett County through Maryland’s Adopt-A-Highway Program which is 84 miles from Pittsburgh Pa to accurately teach the history of the unknown Black frontiersman for which the mountain is named. The unknown African American frontiersman died alongside Col Thomas Cresap in a skirmish with Indigenous French Allies on May 24, 1776. Because of the frontiersman’s fighting prowess and bravery in saving the life of others, the mountain was named in his honor Negro Mountain.
The relationship between Africans free and enslaved with the Indigenous in America has always been complicated, complex and often confusing.
As Americans of all ethnicities living in the 21st Century, we must be very careful not to place any 21st century value judgements on the African American frontiersman who was trying to navigate and survive in the 18th century without a keen acute understanding and appreciation for the history of that period with the backdrop of French and Indian War which often place Africans, Indigenous and European Settlers at odds over land, trade, survival, and other interests.
One has to be cognizant of the fact that Negro Mountain is a rare commemoration of an African American’s role in not only the history of Colonial Maryland but Colonial America. Wherein there are two Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Adopt-A- Highway Signs sit atop Negro Mountain in Garrett County Maryland at the site location. How fitting that the name of the titan Dr. Edna B. McKenzie and ASALH now dwell at the top of Negro Mountain in Garrett County Maryland on the highest point on the national road which runs from the state of Maryland to Illinois.
Negro Mountain is part of the Allegheny Mountain Range that is part of the Appalachian Mountain Range and stretches from north central Pennsylvania through Garrett County to eastern West Virginia.
On May 11 2019, the McKenzie Branch members made a trip to Negro Mountain in Garrett County Maryland to honor their contract with the the State of Maryland’s Adopt-A-Highway Program which requires participants to make four trips a year to clean the Negro Mountain parklet area of litter. When we arrived on Negro Mountain it was discovered that both of the Negro Mountain elevation signs were missing on U.S. alternate route 40. McKenzie Branch members were shocked and highly disappointed that the signs were missing which would start a relentless enduring movement to restore the signage.
On June 24, 2019, McKenzie Branch President Ronald B. Saunders wrote a detailed letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan inquiring about the missing Negro Mountain elevations signs and the rationale for taking down signs that had been displayed for decades.
On July 18, 2019, the Governor’s designee, Gregory Slater wrote a letter to President Saunders stating they were seeking a compromise solution to the missing Negro Mountain signs and that they were seeking a meeting with our Branch.
On September 17, 2020, the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch representatives President Saunders, Judith Saunders, Linda McDougald, the late Ann Mason and Marlene Bransom President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of AAHGS met with Maryland Department Transportation officials In Lavalle Maryland District Six Office to discuss and come up with a solution on the missing signs. Marlene Bransom advocated that the name Negro Mountain be changed to Negro Mountain African American Historical Site. Lora Rakowski, Acting Director, Office of Communication, Maryland State Highway Administration stated she would discuss our recommendation with her superiors.
On February 19, 2020, the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch members, were invited to a meeting in LaValle Maryland by Lora Rakowski to discuss their proposal for remedying the missing Negro Mountain sings in Garrett County Maryland. McKenzie Branch members in attendance were Marlene Bransom, Martha Conley, Esq. Judith Saunders, Linda P. McDougald and Ronald B. Saunders.
Lora Rakowski of MD DOT proposed the new signage for Negro Mountain to read: Negro Mountain, African American Historic Site and our Branch members agreed to the new proposed language for Negro Mountain.
During the great Covid-19 pandemic, Branch President Saunders spearheaded an intense textbook collaborative campaign to keep alive the McKenzie Branch Negro Mountain Initiative involving stakeholders in Maryland with the Secretary’s Office, Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Historical Trust, Dr. Julie Schablitsky of the Cultural Resources Division of Maryland Department of Transportation, Dr. Artie Travis, Vice President of Student Affairs, Frostburg State University, Garrett County Historical Society, Garrett County Administration, Pittsburgh Chapter of AAHGS, Prince Georges County Truth Branch of ASALH, Samuel L. Banks Branch of ASALH and Clarence Davis, former Maryland State Delegate.
After exhaustive research which thoroughly, examined all of the credible available information on the naming of Negro Mountain, in March of 2022, President Saunders wrote a moving comprehensive Statement of Significance to Maryland Historical Trust that was approved which resulted in the (first) historic marker for Garrett County Maryland in its history. The marker reads: “Negro Mountain, African American Historic Site”. The McKenzie Branch will go down in history as the Branch from Pittsburgh who helped change the historical landscape in Western Maryland.
On October 12, 2023 members of the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch hosted a festive celebration for the unveiling of the Historical Marker for Negro Mountain African American Historic Site in Garrett County. The event was attended by 80 people from various Departments from the State of Maryland, other ASALH Branches, Alleghany NAACP, Garrett County Officials, Frostburg State Educators, Garrett County Historical Society and private citizens. The marker commemorates an unknown African American frontiersman who died May 24, 1756 fighting alongside Col Thomas Cresap during a battle with Native American French allies.
The roadside marker relates the story of an African American frontiersman who in 1756 marched from Fort Cumberland with British born colonist Col Thomas Cresap and his troops to engage the enemy. The frontiersman, whose name is not known, was killed May 24, 1756, during a skirmish with Native American French Allies. As a testament to his bravery, the mountain was named for him.
McKenzie Branch members participating on the Negro Mountain Project are as follows:
- Marlene Bransom
- Alonna J. Carter Donaldson
- Alexis Clipper
- Martha Conley
- Margaret Self
- Linda P. McDougald
- Judith E. Saunders
- Tamara M. Saunders
- Ronald B. Saunders
- Artie Travis
- The Late Ann Mason
Both Dr. Woodson and Dr. McKenzie would say “what an exemplary outstanding job in working collaboratively together to honor and preserve our Black history stories.
By: Ronald B. Saunders
President
Dr. Edna B. McKenzie Branch
ASALH