Minorities in Transition: A look at the Black Community and Jewish Businesses of Saint John
Peter Larocque, Curator of New Brunswick Cultural History & Art New Brunswick Museum
History of the Black Community in Saint John, New Brunswick
The history of New Brunswick’s citizens of African descent is sporadically documented in public institutions with only a few surviving archival documents and artifacts. While the exact beginnings of the presence of Blacks in New Brunswick cannot be confirmed with certainty, the majority of today’s community is descended from those individuals who migrated to the province in the 1780s after the American Revolution as well as those who sought refuge here in the few years after the end of the War of 1812. This history was virtually overlooked until 1972 when William A. Spray’s book, The Blacks in New Brunswick, was published. Over thirty years later it still remains the most important compilation and publication of material relating to New Brunswick’s Black history. However, since that time, new information and new methods of gathering and organizing information have become available that permit further documentation and dissemination of details of this neglected story. It is urgent that the history of the struggles and successes of this group of citizens be documented and shared before it is lost from the collective memory.
A History of the Saint John Jewish Community’s Businesses
The history of Saint John’s Jewish community is sporadically documented in public institutions with the bulk of the surviving archival documents and artifacts housed at the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum. The history of the Jewish community was virtually overlooked until 1989 when Marcia Koven published, Weaving the Past into the Present: A Glimpse into the 130 year History of the Saint John Jewish Community. More than fifteen years later her book still remains the most important compilation and publication of material relating to Saint John’s Jewish community. However, since that time, new information and new methods of gathering and organizing information have become available that would permit further documentation and dissemination of details of this neglected story. It is urgent that the history of the struggles and successes of this group of citizens be documented and shared before it is lost from the collective memory.