Boyd House and Boyd Family

You know the saying, “If these walls could talk!” Well this is one of those places. For now, I’ll do the talking and inspire you to learn more on your own. This house was occupied by one of Nashville’s most prominent Black families. Known as the Boyd House, it was built between 1915 and 1920 by McKissack & McKissack, the first Black-owned architectural firm in the U.S. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Dr. Henry Allen Boyd and Georgia Bradford Boyd, the original owners, were devoted to serving their community. Georgia Boyd was a suffragist and leader in Nashville’s Black women’s club movement. Dr. Henry Allen Boyd served on the Fisk University Board of Trustees and helped found Tennessee A&I (today’s Tennessee State University). 

His father, Dr. R.H. Boyd was also a community leader. In 1896, he founded the National Baptist Publishing Board. Then, in 1904, he was the first president of what is now known as Citizens Bank. This bank was a key institution that served Black citizens during a time when White-owned banks denied Black customers. This Citizen’s Bank branch opened on Jefferson Street in 1979 and has been serving customers ever since. 

The Boyd family legacy endures through the R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation, still family-run. Today, Dr. R.H. Boyd’s great-great-granddaughter, Dr. LaDonna Boyd, leads the corporation. She has expanded the family's influence beyond publishing as a major supporter of the National Museum of African American Music, the Nashville Ballet, and many other worthy organizations. Her leadership continues to impact Nashville’s business and culture.

In 1938, Fisk University acquired the Boyd House. After years of disrepair, it faced demolition, but a successful fundraising effort by Fisk allowed for its restoration, completed in 2023. The house now stands as a symbol of the Boyd family’s enduring legacy in Nashville. 

Directions: Return to Meharry Boulevard and continue straight, driving away from the Boyd House and toward Fisk University. Turn RIGHT onto 17th Ave. North. Travel two blocks to reach your next stop, Woodcuts Gallery, on the corner of 17th and Jefferson Street (Address: 1613 Jefferson Street). There is a parking lot for Woodcuts in front of the building. You’ll also see a historical marker.