

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) In conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States, Salt Lake City dedicated the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) In conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States, Salt Lake City dedicates the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862 as the colors are presented at the start of the ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mayor Jackie Biskupski, left, embraces Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake, alongside Jeanetta Williams, NAACP President as they attend a grave marker dedication at the Salt Lake City Cemetery for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pastors Marlin Lynch III, Corey Corey Hodges, Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake, and NAACP President Jeanetta Williams, from left, attend the dedication of the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862, during a ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mayor Jackie Biskupski recognizes Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was acquired by the second mayor of Salt Lake City, Abraham Smoot, during a dedication of his grave marker at the Salt Lake City cemetery In conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City mayor’s office intern Ephraim Kum, reflects on the occasion in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States, as he joins the dedication of the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jeanetta Williams, NAACP President, says a few words in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States, as Salt Lake City dedicates the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Darius Gray, an African-American Latter-day Saint speaker and writer, attends the dedication of the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake, says a few words in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in the United States, as Salt Lake City dedicates the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. The placement and dedication of the marker on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, is the result of research initially conducted by Mark Smith, the former sexton of the Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pastor Marlin Lynch III, performs the closing prayer during the dedication of the first grave marker for Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. Smoot, a well-known pioneer and the second mayor of Salt Lake City, eventually acquired Tom, according to 1850 County census records. Tom was baptized in the Sugarhouse Ward by Henry A. Cheever on June 24th, 1854. Tom died from causes listed as Òinflammation of the chestÓ in 1862 at the age of 42 and was buried in the pauper's section of the Salt Lake City Cemetery.



(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, background, and Representative Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake, lay flowers at the grave of Tom, an enslaved Black pioneer who was buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery in 1862. TomÕs grave marker was dedicate at the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019.