The Sugg-McDonald Project

In 1857 William Sugg, a slave who was allowed to purchase his freedom for the sum of one dollar, built a home that would become one of Sonora's bedrock pioneer landmarks.  The Sugg family occupied that home, in the heart of the Mother Lode, for one hundred and twenty five years and it is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The contents of the home, including documents, photos and personal effects representing over a century remain intact.  The Mother Lode Black Heritage Foundation is currently working on a project to catalog and archive this remarkable collection of African American Gold Rush history.  

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