Two Dorseys: Thomas J. and William Henry
Stuff You Missed in History Class
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Thomas Dorsey: A Pioneer Caterer
This chapter explores the life and career of Thomas Dorsey in 19th-century Philadelphia, emphasizing the limited job opportunities for Black individuals and his transition into the catering industry. It highlights the early evolution of catering as a profession, shedding light on the significant contributions of Black workers and the social context surrounding the industry.
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Thomas J. Dorsey liberated himself from enslavement and became one of the most sought-after caterers in Philadelphia. His son William Henry Dorsey was born a free Black man before the Civil War, and became an artist, collector and scrapbooker.
Research:
- "Thomas J. Dorsey." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 90, Gale, 2011. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1606005269/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=0c6af117. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
- 1838 Black Metropolis. “What Resistance looked like in 1838.” https://www.1838blackmetropolis.com/post/what-resistance-looked-like-in-1838
- Aston Gonzalez (2019) William Dorsey and the construction of an African American history archive, Social Dynamics, 45:1, 138-155, DOI: 10.1080/02533952.2019.1589323
- Berlin, Ira. "UNIVERSITY PRESSES; Scrapbooks of a Black Heritage." The New York Times Book Review, 22 Sept. 1991. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A175323797/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=cdf57532. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
- Cashin, Sheryll. “The Agitator's Daughter: A Memoir of Four Generations of One Extraordinary African-American Family.” Public Affairs. 2008.
- Conrad, Sharron Wilkins. “Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia Caterer Thomas J. Dorsey.” American Visions. August/September 2000.
- Cromwell, J.W.C. “An Art Gallery and Museum, Not In the Guide Book.” New National Era, Washington D.C. 10/1/1874. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn84026753/1874-10-01/ed-1/?sp=2&st=text&r=0.437,-0.008,0.25,0.231,0
- Du Bois, W. E. B. “The Philadelphia Negro; A Social Study.” Philadelphia, Published for the University. 1899. https://archive.org/details/philadelphianegr00dubo/
- Franqui, Leah. “Cultural Histories: Philadelphia’s Black Culinary Trailblazers and the Birth of Catering.” Solo Real Estate. https://www.solorealty.com/blog/cultural-histories-philadelphias-black-culinary-trailblazers-and-the-birth-of-catering/
- Greenlee, Cynthia. “A Priceless Archive of Ordinary Life.” The Atlantic. 2/9/2021. https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/02/race-save-black-history-archives/617932/
- Howard, Sherry. “Connecting with a 19th-century Black history & art collector.” Auction Finds. https://myauctionfinds.com/2021/04/01/connecting-with-a-19th-century-black-history-art-collector/
- Lane, Roger. “Willam Dorsey’s Philadelphia and Ours.” Oxford University Press. 1991.
- “Seen and Heard in Many Places.” The Philadelphia Times. 10/19/1896.
- “Seen And Heard in Many Places.” The Philadelphia Times. 10/17/1896.
- Morehouse College. “Honoring a Forgotten Past: An Author’s Journey.” 2/15/2021. https://news.morehouse.edu/morehouse-faculty/honoring-a-forgotten-past-an-authors-journey
- Solomon, Tessa. “How Two African American Collectors Celebrated Black Artistry Amid the Civil War.” ArtNews. 4/7/2021. https://www.artnews.com/feature/who-are-william-henry-dorsey-edward-thomas-19th-century-collectors-1234587386/
- Still, William. “The underground rail road. A record of facts, authentic narratives, letters, &c., narrating the hardships, hair-breadth escapes, and death struggles of the slaves in their efforts for freedom, as related by themselves and others, or witnessed by the author; together with sketches of some of the largest stockholders, and most liberal aiders and advisers, of the road.” Philadelphia, Porter & Coates. 1872. https://archive.org/details/undergroundrailr00stil
- Strimer, Steve. "Dorsey, Basil." Oxford African American Studies Center. May 31, 2013. Oxford University Press. Date of access 2 Apr. 2025, https://oxfordaasc-com.proxy.bostonathenaeum.org/view/10.1093/acref/9780195301731.001.0001/acref-9780195301731-e-38488
- TerBush, James and Barbara Dreyfuss. “A Cape May Connection.” Cape May Magazine. Mid-summer 2021. https://www.capemaymag.com/feature/a-cape-may-connection/
- The Evening Telegraph. “Caterers and Restaurateurs.” 3/30/1867. https://www.newspapers.com/image/78649823/
- The Manuscript Society. “William Henry Dorsey: Preserving Black History.” 2/16/2021. https://manuscript.org/2021/02/william-henry-dorsey-preserviing-19th-century-life/
- The Philadelphia Inquirer. 2/23/1875. Page 5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168293006/
- The Philadelphia Times. “William H. Dorsey’s African Museum.” 10/25/1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52857231/
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