Friends of Clifton Mansion

We’re delighted to announce that the restoration of Clifton Mansion is back in full swing! Our talented team of artisans is hard at work, breathing new life into the Salon, Library and Hallway.

This is not just a renovation; it’s a revival of history, elegance, and the stories held within these walls. With every brushstroke and polished fixture, we’re bringing back the grandeur that Clifton Mansion is known for, ensuring that its beauty can be enjoyed for generations to come.

Curious about our progress? Don’t miss the chance to witness the transformation! Stay connected to our social media and website to see behind-the-scenes updates, and the craftsmanship that goes into restoring this beloved landmark.

Join us on this incredible journey and be part of the renaissance of Clifton Mansion. Together, we can preserve a piece of history!

Our Mission

Clifton Mansion was the summer home of Quaker merchant Johns Hopkins. In founding the Johns Hopkins University, Hospital, and Medical School, Hopkins transformed higher education, medicine, and the City of Baltimore. He became the first important American philanthropist. It was in this Italianate villa that he hosted local, national, and international dignitaries who were at the forefront of 19th century progress and prosperity.

Friends of Clifton Mansion is a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Clifton Mansion, honoring the legacy of Johns Hopkins and Clifton’s significant contribution to Baltimore and American history.  Our mission is to restore Clifton Mansion back to its original elegance, making it a building that all Baltimoreans can take great pride in with a special emphasis on philanthropy and honoring the history of this remarkable piece of American architecture.  

Friends of Clifton Mansion’s vision is to establish a museum of philanthropy commemorating Maryland philanthropists and their roles in the development of modern American philanthropy. Friends of Clifton Mansion promotes the welfare of the people of Baltimore, the ideal of American philanthropy, progress, and the worth and dignity of Clifton Mansion and its history. This purpose is given tangible visibility by restoring and preserving the historic summer residence of Johns Hopkins, Baltimore’s preeminent philanthropist and visionary.

In 2020, a scholar uncovered an 1850 census form that enumerated a group of four enslaved men at the summer estate of Johns Hopkins, Maryland’s most famous philanthropist and founder of the renowned university and hospital that bear his name. This census record of enslaved people associated with Johns Hopkins, a birthright Quaker and reputed abolitionist, was a puzzling discovery. Who were the four men? Did Johns Hopkins own them or were they employed by him or others living at the estate? Are there other explanations that should be considered? This paper takes a closer look at this surprising document, at the history of the seventh United States population census, and at Johns Hopkins’ unique life as a merchant, banker, investor, and practicing Quaker. It introduces and scrutinizes four possible explanations for the presence of the men at Hopkins’ summer residence near Baltimore City during the summer of 1850.

A Maryland Mystery: Johns Hopkins, the Census of 1850, and Slavery,"

Use the following link to access the paper posted on the Open Science Framework (OSF). The paper can be read on OSF or downloaded using the "Download" button. You do not need to sign in or have an account with OSF.  

https://osf.io/gu2wr/

The authors thank you for your interest.
Sydney Van Morgan, Ed Papenfuse, Stan Becker & Sam Hopkins

Help support the restoration of Clifton Mansion

Photography Contributions