James Monroe Trotter
Encyclopedia
James Monroe Trotter was born into slavery
in Grand Gulf
, Mississippi
to a slave named Letitia and her master Richard S. Trotter. Letitia, along with her two sons, James Monroe and Charles Trotter, escaped on the Underground Railroad
to Cincinnati, Ohio
. James attended the Gilmer School in that city.
He later received teacher education training at The Albany Academy in Athens County, Ohio
. He used this training to teach in schools for colored persons in the Ohio counties of Pike and Muskingham, and in Ross County
at Chillicothe
. During his time in Chillicothe, he met his future wife, Virginia Isaacs. According to family tradition, she was a great-grand daughter of President
Thomas Jefferson
and Mary Hemings
, an older half-sister of Sally Hemings
.
During the American Civil War
, Trotter traveled to Boston, Massachusetts where he enlisted in the Union Army
, joining the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry USCT, Company K, in June 1863. He quickly rose from the rank of Private to Sergeant, and was ultimately promoted to 2nd Lieutenant
, the first man of color to achieve this rank up to that time.
Upon completing his military service, Trotter returned to Chillicothe, where he married Virginia Isaacs in 1868. The couple moved to Massachusetts
, where Trotter became the first man of color to be employed by the United States Post Office (USPS) in Boston. They soon became the parents of three children; William Monroe Trotter
became the renowned Boston newspaper editor and human rights activist. After years of service with the USPS, James Trotter found that he was not being promoted as were white co-workers of equal years of service. In an act of protest, he resigned rather than continue in an inferior position.
A multi-talented man, Trotter wrote a book entitled Music and Some Highly Musical People, published in 1880. The book is the first comprehensive study of music ever written in the United States. It is still used today by those interested in music history and tracing the origins of music, especially African-American music. It has been reissued at least two times. The last time was in 1981.
Another landmark accomplishment for him was his appointment by President
Grover Cleveland
to the office of Recorder of Deeds
for the District of Columbia in 1887, the highest office to be held by a man of color at that time. Two other prominent men of color of that era, Fredrick Douglass (1881–1886) and Senator
Blanche Kelso Bruce (1891–1893), also held that office.
The James M. Trotter Convention Center in Columbus, Mississippi
was named in his honor.
The Bostonian Society, 2007
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in Grand Gulf
Grand Gulf Military State Park (Mississippi)
Grand Gulf Military State Park is a Mississippi state park located 10 miles northwest of Port Gibson in the unincorporated area that is now the ghost town of Grand Gulf. It is located in Claiborne County, Mississippi. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
to a slave named Letitia and her master Richard S. Trotter. Letitia, along with her two sons, James Monroe and Charles Trotter, escaped on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
to Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. James attended the Gilmer School in that city.
He later received teacher education training at The Albany Academy in Athens County, Ohio
Athens County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,223 people, 22,501 households, and 12,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 24,901 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile...
. He used this training to teach in schools for colored persons in the Ohio counties of Pike and Muskingham, and in Ross County
Ross County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 73,345 people, 27,136 households, and 19,185 families residing in the county. The population density was 106 people per square mile . There were 29,461 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
at Chillicothe
Chillicothe
Chillicothe is the name of some places in the United States of America:*Chillicothe, Ohio**Chillicothe Turnpike*Chillicothe, Illinois*Chillicothe, Iowa*Chillicothe, Missouri*Chillicothe, Texas...
. During his time in Chillicothe, he met his future wife, Virginia Isaacs. According to family tradition, she was a great-grand daughter of President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and Mary Hemings
Mary Hemings
Mary Hemings, also known as Mary Hemings Bell , was born into slavery, most likely in Charles City County, Virginia, as the oldest child of Elizabeth Hemings, a mixed-race slave held by John Wayles...
, an older half-sister of Sally Hemings
Sally Hemings
Sarah "Sally" Hemings was a mixed-race slave owned by President Thomas Jefferson through inheritance from his wife. She was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson by their father John Wayles...
.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Trotter traveled to Boston, Massachusetts where he enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, joining the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry USCT, Company K, in June 1863. He quickly rose from the rank of Private to Sergeant, and was ultimately promoted to 2nd Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, the first man of color to achieve this rank up to that time.
Upon completing his military service, Trotter returned to Chillicothe, where he married Virginia Isaacs in 1868. The couple moved to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where Trotter became the first man of color to be employed by the United States Post Office (USPS) in Boston. They soon became the parents of three children; William Monroe Trotter
William Monroe Trotter
William Monroe Trotter was a newspaper editor and real estate business man, and an activist for African-American civil rights. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harvard University, and was the first man of color to earn a Phi Beta Kappa key...
became the renowned Boston newspaper editor and human rights activist. After years of service with the USPS, James Trotter found that he was not being promoted as were white co-workers of equal years of service. In an act of protest, he resigned rather than continue in an inferior position.
A multi-talented man, Trotter wrote a book entitled Music and Some Highly Musical People, published in 1880. The book is the first comprehensive study of music ever written in the United States. It is still used today by those interested in music history and tracing the origins of music, especially African-American music. It has been reissued at least two times. The last time was in 1981.
Another landmark accomplishment for him was his appointment by President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
to the office of Recorder of Deeds
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...
for the District of Columbia in 1887, the highest office to be held by a man of color at that time. Two other prominent men of color of that era, Fredrick Douglass (1881–1886) and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Blanche Kelso Bruce (1891–1893), also held that office.
The James M. Trotter Convention Center in Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
was named in his honor.
Note
"James Monroe Trotter (1842–1892) was a prominent 19th-century civil rights advocate. He came to Boston to join the Massachusetts 54th* Regiment, the first African-American corps of soldiers in the Civil War. After the war, Trotter became the highest ranking African-American in the federal government in his position as Federal Recorder of Deeds. He was the father of civil-rights leader William Monroe Trotter."The Bostonian Society, 2007
- *Note: Available military records indicate that Trotter mustered in to the Massachusetts 55th regiment in June 1863. Thus, the above reference issued by the Bostonian Society is apparently in error on that point.