Headstone for July Perry at Greenwood Cemetery
Dublin Core
Title
Headstone for July Perry at Greenwood Cemetery
Alternative Title
July Perry Headstone
Subject
Orlando (Fla.)
Cemeteries--Florida--Orange County
Ocoee (Fla.)
Riots--Florida
Race riots--United States
Gravestones
Tombstones
Graves
Description
Headstone of Julius "July" Perry (1868-1920) in the Section K of the Greenwood Cemetery, located at 1603 Greenwood Street in Orlando,Florda, in 2002. An African-American landowner in Ocoee, July Perry is best known as a victim of mob violence during the Ocoee Massacre (also known as the Ocoee Race Riot) that occurred on November 2, 1920. On Election Day, during the presidential election of 1920, Mose Norman made several attempts to vote at the polls, but was turned away by white mobs. The mobs also targeted and jailed Perry, who was believed to be hiding Norman. While being held in the Downtown Orlando jail, Perry was captured and lynched by the mob. Up to 56 other African Americans were killed and many African-American buildings were razed. Those who survived were threatened or forced to leave.
The cemetery where July Perry is buried was established in 1880 and officially named Greenwood Cemetery at the suggestion of Samuel Robinson and Cassius Boone. In 1911, the cemetery was expanded to 40 acres. The entrance of Greenwood Cemetery was relocated from Gore Street to Greenwood Street in 1919. In the 1940s, the cemetery expanded to 100 acres, and Section K, which was reserved for African-American residents, was opened. In 1943, a portion of the cemetery was designated for veterans of World War I and World War II. Portions had previously been designated for Union veterans of the American Civil War, Confederate veterans of the American Civil War, and veterans of the Spanish-American War. The portion for World War veterans was initially reserved for "veterans of the white race," but the race restriction was later lifted in the 1960s.
The cemetery where July Perry is buried was established in 1880 and officially named Greenwood Cemetery at the suggestion of Samuel Robinson and Cassius Boone. In 1911, the cemetery was expanded to 40 acres. The entrance of Greenwood Cemetery was relocated from Gore Street to Greenwood Street in 1919. In the 1940s, the cemetery expanded to 100 acres, and Section K, which was reserved for African-American residents, was opened. In 1943, a portion of the cemetery was designated for veterans of World War I and World War II. Portions had previously been designated for Union veterans of the American Civil War, Confederate veterans of the American Civil War, and veterans of the Spanish-American War. The portion for World War veterans was initially reserved for "veterans of the white race," but the race restriction was later lifted in the 1960s.
Creator
Cook, Thomas
Source
Original color image by Thomas Cook, 2002: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Publisher
Date Created
2003
Contributor
Cook, Thomas
Is Part Of
Thomas Cook Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
298 KB
Medium
1 color digital image
Language
eng
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando, Florida
Ocoee, Florida
Orlando Jail, Downtown Orlando, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Civics/Government Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Thomas Cook and published by RICHES of Central Florida.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by Thomas Cook and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
Private Collection of Thomas Cook
External Reference
"July Perry." Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10917526.
Dabbs, Lester. A Report of the Circumstances and Events of the Race Riot on November 2, 1920 in Ocoee, Florida. Thesis (M.A.)--Stetson University, 1969, 1969.
"Episode 2: The Legacy of the Ocoee Riot." RICHES of Central Florida. http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/audio/Ep2-OcoeeRiot.mp3.
Hurston, Zora Neale. The Ocoee Riot. 1920.
Krasa, Sandra, and Bianca White. Ocoee Legacy of the Election Day Massacre. New York, NY: Distributed by Third World Newsreel, 2002.
Jones, Maxine Deloris, and Kevin McCarthy. African Americans in Florida. Sarasota, Fla: Pineapple Press, 1993.
"History." Greenwood Cemetery. http://www.greenwood-cemetery.net/history.htm.
Stockton, Betty Jo. Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando, Florida. Orlando, Fla: The Society, 2001.
Rajtar, Steve. Greenwood: Orlando, Florida: Greenwood Cemetery Historical Trail. Orlando, Fla: Central Florida Genealogical Society, 2003.
Rajtar, Steve. A Guide to Historic Orlando. Charleston, SC: History Press, 2006.
Transcript
JULY PERRY
1868-1920
1868-1920
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 color digital image
Collection
Citation
Cook, Thomas, “Headstone for July Perry at Greenwood Cemetery,” RICHES, accessed April 26, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/1920.