Preservation & Conservation of Union’s Historic Cemeteries
Union Baptist Church of Cincinnati is the second oldest African American church in Cincinnati, Ohio and the oldest African American Baptist church in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1831. The church currently owns and operates the two oldest African American cemeteries in Ohio,
Union Baptist Cemetery in Price Hill and the United Colored American Cemetery in Madisonville.
Since 2019, a small group of volunteers has begun the preservation and restoration work required at both cemeteries as well as the related archival of primary burial documentation under the auspices of the Union Foundation, the 501(c)3 nonprofit arm of the church.
Goals and Objectives
Cemeteries:
Restoration of both properties
Restoring or replacing headstones
Install landscaping to create a safe space for grieving families, and a welcoming space for researchers
Develop ongoing public programming
Digitally map both properties
Archives:
Digitize and transcribe entire collection in partnership with the
Cincinnati Public Library
Conservation of damaged items
Creation of a finding aid
Publication of collection
Ongoing scholarship and public programming
Community Partners
Senator Sherrod Brown NURFC Cincinnati Public Library University of Cincinnati The Mercantile Library
