Two Dorseys: Thomas J. and William Henry
Stuff You Missed in History Class
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Catering Heritage in Philadelphia
This chapter examines the history of catering in Philadelphia, focusing on early figures like Caesar Cranchell and Robert Bogle, who rose from enslavement to prominence. It highlights the pivotal role of Black chefs in reshaping the catering landscape and their contributions to social activism during the 19th century.
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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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