Last updated: June 18, 2021
Place
John Mitchell, Jr.'s Home
NPS Photo/Maggie L. Walker NHS
Quick Facts
Location:
623 N. 3rd Street
Significance:
Former home of John Mitchell, Jr.
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
Private business
This double-home, constructed in the Italianate style, was the former home of John Mitchell, Jr. To preserve this historic structure, it was moved from its original location at 515–517 North Third Street to the 600-block of North Third Street. John Mitchell Jr. was truly a renaissance man. He was born in 1863 at Laburnum in neighboring Henrico County and he attended the public schools of Richmond, graduating from Richmond Colored Normal in 1881.
After a short stint in teaching, Mitchell would embark upon a career in journalism that would span nearly fifty years. He is perhaps best remembered for being the fiery, fearless editor and publisher of the Richmond Planet newspaper from 1884 until 1929. Mitchell used his pen as a sword to fight injustices locally and statewide. He also tirelessly fought for a federal anti-lynching bill. Mitchell served for a time as president of the Afro-American Press Association. As the founder and president of the Mechanics Savings Bank, he was for a number of years the lone African American member of the American Bankers Association.
Mitchell was also very active in politics. He served on Richmond’s City Council from 1888 until 1896 and he even ran for governor in 1921 on the Lily Black ticket which included pioneering banker, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker as a candidate for the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mitchell also played a major role in the 1904 streetcar boycott in Richmond in response to discriminatory practices. John Mitchell, Jr. died in 1929.
After a short stint in teaching, Mitchell would embark upon a career in journalism that would span nearly fifty years. He is perhaps best remembered for being the fiery, fearless editor and publisher of the Richmond Planet newspaper from 1884 until 1929. Mitchell used his pen as a sword to fight injustices locally and statewide. He also tirelessly fought for a federal anti-lynching bill. Mitchell served for a time as president of the Afro-American Press Association. As the founder and president of the Mechanics Savings Bank, he was for a number of years the lone African American member of the American Bankers Association.
Mitchell was also very active in politics. He served on Richmond’s City Council from 1888 until 1896 and he even ran for governor in 1921 on the Lily Black ticket which included pioneering banker, Mrs. Maggie L. Walker as a candidate for the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mitchell also played a major role in the 1904 streetcar boycott in Richmond in response to discriminatory practices. John Mitchell, Jr. died in 1929.