Master of Mahogany: Tom Day, Free Black Cabinetmaker

by Mary E. Lyons

Tom Day was in a unique position in antebellum North Carolina of being a free, literate African-American master craftsman. In lively text, accompanied by memorable photos, Lyons traces the life and accomplishments of this artisan whose distinctive, elegant furniture was highly prized in his day and is now valued by museums. Includes bibliography, glossary, and index. 20 full-color photos; 10 black-and-white photos.

42 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Mary E. Lyons, a former teacher and librarian, became a full-time writer in 1993. She is the author of nineteen books for young readers published by Scribner, Atheneum, Henry Holt, Houghton Mifflin and Oxford University Press.

Born and raised in the American South, Mary Lyons lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, Paul. Her publications for adults include The Blue Ridge Tunnel: A Remarkable Engineering Feat in Antebellum Virginia (History Press, 2014), The Virginia Blue Ridge Railroad (History Press, 2015), and Slave Labor on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Railroad (History Press, 2020).

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary E. Lyons brings Thomas Day, a free black man and master furniture maker to life. Although this book is focused on a middle-school audience, it is a quick and fun read for adults. Rarely, do we ever read about the many contributions that free blacks and slaves made to the building and creation of the United States. Many slaves and free blacks were skilled craftsmen: carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, and cabinet makers. How many of us know about Dave the Potter (David Drake), Thomas Gross, Jr. Peter Bentzon, or for that matter, Thomas Day? During the colonial and antebellum periods in America, African American craftsmen created works of beauty and utility. Unfortunately, their names have been erased or omitted from most history book. Mary Lyons has written a number of books that correct these omissions including: "African-American Artists and Artisans" and "Master of Mahoney: Tom Day, Free Black Cabinetmaker." I recommend this book for not only children but for parents, too.