Uncrowned Community Builders

Frank Elliott Merriweather Sr. was born in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Merriweather graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1910 where he earned degrees in journalism and print operations. He and Carmelita Mitchell married on June 24, 1914 and settled in Houston, Texas where all but one of their children was born.


Mr. Merriweather first moved from Houston, Texas to New York City and worked for the New York Age, a nationally known Black newspaper. In 1922 he moved with his family to Buffalo, New York. In Buffalo, Mr. Merriweather took a job as a boiler maker with the Lackawanna Railroad, in addition to this regular job with the railroad, he worked with Leroy Murray a black Buffalonian who edited and published the Buffalo Booster, a local black newspaper. The Booster was published in Murray's shop at 137 Clinton St.


Mr. Merriweather established his own print shop in 1923 at 456 Jefferson. Two years later, he moved his shop to 40 William Street. In 1925, the Buffalo Criterion was first published. Mrs. Merriweather got into the newspaper and printing business with her husband in 1925. During this period she was one of the few women involved in that kind of work. She remained an indispensable partner in her husband's newspaper and printing business until his death in 1959. Following Mr. Merriweather's death his son Frank Jr. took over publication of the paper. The Criterion has remained a Merriweather family enterprise since its inception and continues to publish an edition weekly. The paper has observed over 90 years of continuous publication!


Mr. Merriweather also organized the first political club for African Americans. He founded the Booker T. Washington Republican Club for men and the Martha Washington Club for women. Also, thanks to his leadership the first African American voter registration drive was held in Buffalo. He also served, for two terms, as an aide to Assemblyman Frank X. Bernhardt, New York State Legislature. Mr. Merriweather was one of the originators of the New York Negro Crispus Attucks Republican League. He was engaged in numerous other community and civic activities, including being the first Negro keeper of the William Street Bath House.


Mr. Merriweather and his wife were the parents of four children: Frank E., Jr., Hulit Merriweather Curry, a noted musician, Thyra Merriweather Charles, the second African American to earn a nursing degree and Barbara Merriweather Sims, Judge and attorney.
Mr. Merriweather was 71 years of age at the time of his death. He is buried in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery.