Locating Slavery's Legacies @ Virginia Military Institute

Memorial Object

Plaque/Marker

Enslaver

Emancipationist

Hopkins, Stephen

Stone memorializing Stephen Hopkins

The 'Walk of Fame' was created in 1929 by then-president Hamilton Holt to honor significant historical figures. The memorial is located in the center of campus around Mills Lawn.

Stephen Hopkins was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Prior to his contribution to the founding of the United States, he worked in several positions in the local government of Rhode Island and was later elected as the governor of Rhode Island. Hopkins worked as a merchant and established his own shipping company. He helped transform the town of Providence from a small, underdeveloped village to a thriving port city. He was also the first chancellor of Brown University.

Hopkins owned at least seven slaves, and, as a converted Quaker, he was pressured by his brethren to free his slaves. He did free one, St. Jago, in 1772 but this was likely for his own financial benefit as St. Jago was old and had little monetary value. He did free the rest of his slaves in his will, but only when they reached adulthood. Intellectually, he opposed slavery. He called it "the heaviest curse that human nature is capable of."

While he was chief justice of Rhode Island, Hopkins introduced a bill to prevent further importation of slaves into the state. This was the first law in what would become the United States to prohibit importation.

Stephen Hopkins’ stone block was moved from his home in Providence, Rhode Island in 1939.

Holt, Hamilton

18.5x15.5 inches. Engraved stone. Rough. Grey faded.

Stephen Hopkins
Providence R.I

Holt, Hamilton

1939

March 2025

1890-1945: Era of the Lost Cause, Jim Crow legal segregation and discrimination, and organized anti-Black racism

Holt, Hamilton

Walk of Fame

Rollins College; Winter Park, Florida

https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1399643

Hopkins Biography

Hopkins Slaves

Hopkins and Brown

Banning of slave trade