Honoring Board Member Thomas D. Jordan (1965-2023)

A reflection from Executive Director Christina Hartlieb, on behalf of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Staff, Board, and Volunteers on the passing of Thomas D. Jordan, Board Member of the Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe House:

I first met Thomas several years ago at a conference on reckoning with the consequences of slavery at the University of Cincinnati.  We chatted and he became very interested in the work we were doing to educate visitors and facilitate discussions on historical context. 

He was also intrigued by the dual interpretation we talked about here in terms of the overlapping ideas of the 19th century abolitionist era and the 20th century Green Book era.  The concept of the House serving as a “lighthouse symbolizing good will and better understanding,” first voiced by the home’s preservation group in 1943, really resonated with Thomas. 

He became involved in our work and served as a board member of the Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe House for over three years.  During that time, he was instrumental in crafting a statement condemning senseless acts of racial violence during the summer of 2020, he presented a genealogy workshop as part of our programming series, he served on several committees, and he provided an on-camera presence during our 2020 virtual Harriet’s Birthday Party and for a video about our Restoration project.
 
Thomas had a positive attitude and a deep regard for sharing his own knowledge and expertise. We will certainly miss his smile and his willingness to learn even more.  When interviewed for a board member profile, he told us had learned more about the Beechers and the Lane Seminary, but also that “My favorite book I found in the bookstore is The Overground Railroad. It is about The Green Book and the author documented her trip to visit all of these locations. It gives a raw perspective on The Green Book as it relates to African American history especially during the Civil Rights Movement.” 

These snippets demonstrate his understanding of the relevancy of our work and the interconnections between our dual interpretation.   It speaks to Thomas’ recognition of knowing and understanding what has come before – “Cincinnati is full of history, some of which has been lost.”  He helped to bring it back.
 
We thank Thomas for his gift of time and support serving on the board of the Friends of Harriet Beecher Stowe House.  His commitment to true history and to genealogy served as a beacon to others.  He will be greatly missed.

Details for Thomas Jordan's funeral can be found here: https://www.prestoncharlesfuneralhome.com/obituary/BishopThomas-Jordan