Dr. Paul Phillips III and Paula Phillips unveiled a new historic marker Thursday at Der Stadt Friedhof, honoring the African-American community and history of Gillespie County. The marker is a culmination of nearly three years of work by local organizers.

On May 8, 1846, 120 German settlers arrived to establish Fredericksburg. Other groups followed in 1846 and 1847. The Mormons established Zodiac in 1847, and Gillespie County was created out of Bexar County. The local Germans and the Mormons opposed slavery.

It was a full house at Pioneer Museum’s kick-off to the First Weekend event featuring a program by Paul Phillips III, “Preserving the Past, Building the Future” Phillips Family History.

Jonas Perkins, local sculptor, Erika Caputo, Pioneer Memorial Librarian and Paul Phillips III pose with the maquette created by Perkins of Thelma McDaniel Phillips.

The inaugural Fredericksburg Book Festival, Saturday, Jan. 18, will kick off activities by dedicating the day to Thelma McDaniels Phillips, the first librarian of Pioneer Memorial Library.

Slavery Brought Black Families to Fredericksburg - The Phillips family’s journey from slavery to success

Thelma M. Phillips, head librarian of the newly renovated Pioneer Memorial Library in 1967, at the circulation desk with Adah Peden.