Location: 44° 28.512′ N, 73° 11.971′ W
University of Vermont Campus, behind Admissions building, near 194 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401
Placed in 2015 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation
Inscription:
Andrew Harris 1814-1841
First African American Graduate of the University of Vermont, 1838
Abolitionist & Advocate of Black Equality
“We consider it criminal in the sight of God and man, longer
silently to submit to our indignities, or suffer them to be
transmitted to posterity.”
Andrew Harris was one of the first African Americans to earn a college degree. The antislavery journal Liberator stated he was “probably the most educated colored man in our country.” He was a featured speaker at the 1839 meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Harris was one of the founders of the American & Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, a delegate to the first convention of the Liberty Party, and pastor of the 2nd African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He died at age 27.
vtaaht.org 