Who is Archer Alexander?
Five years have passed since Dorris Keeven-Franke first discovered that Archer Alexander is buried in St. Peters UCC Cemetery on Lucas and Hunt in Normandy, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Historians had been led to believe since 1885, that he was buried in another location. As soon as Cemetery Superintendent Bill Baumgartner discovered this hero lies in their Common Lot, where hundreds of individuals, both black and white are buried in unmarked graves, they voluntarily offered a solution to rectify this. On February 28, 2019, they offered a beautiful location, near today’s front entrance, for friends and family to place a memorial to this man. In September of 2023, the NPS National Underground Railroad, Network to Freedom, added St. Peters to their list of over 750 nationwide sites marking these freedom seekers. Currently, Archer Alexander is recognized by the nation in one of the most controversial monuments in our country, the Emancipation Monument in Washington, D.C. There he represents the thousands of formerly enslaved on their memorial to President Abraham Lincoln.
Archer Alexander was born in 1806, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and he, his wife and his children were taken to St. Charles, Missouri in 1829. A talented craftsman, in stone, brick, and wood, he and other enslaved would build many beautiful homes still standing today. When the Civil War began, he and his family were still enslaved by several Southern sympathizers, and he would overhear their plans for a nearby bridge that was guarded by Union Troops. His brave action of reporting this to the military would be discovered, resulting in his need to flee on the Underground Railroad to St. Louis, and the home of William G. Eliot. This freedom seeker was helping lead several other resilient and defiant men that night as well.
Very early in 2023, a very talented St. Louis sculptor, Abraham Mohler was asked to propose what he envisioned for the Archer Alexander Memorial, at St. Peters UCC Cemetery. He shared his vision of Archer Alexander rising from his Common Lot burial location, beckoning people to rise and follow him, just as they had that night in 1863.
“No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” –Isaiah 65 17-23
St. Peters UCC Cemetery, descendants, and friends have begun their work to see this beautiful testimony to this man, husband, father, and freedom seeker. This memorial shares how Archer Alexander was not only a craftsman of buildings, but a greater future for all his people. They will be assisted in their great mission by the St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce (https://stlouisartschamberofcommerce.org/about/) with Executive Director, Sandy Brooks.
What is the Memorial?
The Archer Alexander Memorial is bringing together arts and history to commemorate the last fugitive slave, Archer Alexander. Beckoning to all of the souls buried in the mass grave behind him, he encourages all to rise up from the grave, inspired by the prophecy in Isaiah 65: 21-23.
"They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,
nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
they and their descendants with them."