Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia Caterer Thomas J. Dorsey

American Visions, August, 2000 by Sharron Wilkins Conrad

The federal census for 1875 confirms this popular belief, clearly showing Dorsey to be a relatively wealthy man. The value of Dorsey's real estate holdings alone exceeded the combined wealth of Henry Minton and Peter Augustin--two of Philadelphia's other illustrious African-American caterers. Dorsey disclosed to census takers that his real estate property was valued at $62,000 and that the value of his personal property added up to $35,0O0.

The great fortune amassed by Dorsey during the nearly 40 years he worked in Philadelphia's food service industry was enough to allow his family a degree of independence. No family member, however, continued the catering business that Dorsey had established.

The story of Thomas J. Dorsey is, in many ways, similar to those of many African Americans during the 19th century. Dorsey used the economic system already in place when he reached Philadelphia to his best advantage. His commitment to excellence ensured his success and made him one of the most respected African-American men of his era.

The potential value of his story lies in his role as a black entrepreneur and successful businessman. Today the African-American community faces some difficult issues, most of which are economic. Many leaders emphasize the need for blacks to create and support African-American-owned businesses as a means of energizing communities and stabilizing economic futures. By rescuing Thomas J. Dorsey and others from anonymity, we demonstrate the historical continuity and importance of successful black entrepreneurs.

Sharron Wilkins Conrad is a museum educator in Baltimore and a former research associate for American Visions. Her last article for the magazine, "The President's Kitchen," appeared in the February/March 1995 issue.