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Black History in Sanford, Broadway, and Lee County
Black History in Sanford, Broadway, and Lee County is the product of a group effort by community history organizations in Lee County. Beginning in 2023, the Lee County Libraries has worked to identify significant materials in the community and in the library’s collection that could help tell the story of Black History in Lee County. This first collection of images, yearbooks, newspapers, and more comes online courtesy of W.B. Wicker School Alumni, the Railroad House Historical Association and Museum, and the Lee County Libraries.
The Legacy of Link Boykin in Sanford, NC
Arnold Lincoln "Link" Boykin (September 14, 1872 - March 31, 1943) was a prolific African-American builder in Sanford and Lee County, with a footprint that reached far outside the county. Born in Sampson County, NC, Boykin moved to the Cameron area, just south of Sanford, by the early 1890s. In 1895, Link Boykin moved to Sanford and, over the next several decades, played a critical role in the growth and development of Sanford and Lee County. During the Jim Crow era, Boykin and his crew of Black builders and brick masons established a reputation for beautiful work, building countless homes across Sanford, in both Black and white neighborhoods. In addition, Boykin's crews built fences, laid sidewalks, moved houses, and built churches, schools, and commercial buildings that still stand today.
Check out this photo exhibit highlighting the History of the Lee County Libraries in the Local History & Genealogy Room display case!
