This summer, one of the oldest organizations in Brooklyn entered a new era.
The Society of Old Brooklynites elected longtime Crown Heights resident Dr. Frederick Monderson as its 49th president. Last month, at an anniversary gala dinner, Monderson was sworn in.
The Society of Old Brooklynites was founded in 1880 when the borough was an independent city. To this day, the Society promotes fellowship among its members while collecting and preserving the history of Brooklyn and cultivating local pride and spirit.
To join the Society, one must be a Brooklyn resident for at least 25 years. Monderson has lived in Brooklyn since 1968 and has built a legacy as a Vietnam War veteran, Egyptologist, retired public school teacher and Community Board 8’s transportation committee chairman.
"He was chosen by our Nominating Committee due to his longtime affiliation with the Society, his prominence as a civic leader, Brooklyn historian, for outstanding community service, military veteran, as well as a popular, friendly, warm-hearted, highly regarded and respected person by Society members and Board of Directors," Theodore General, one of the current vice presidents of the Society, wrote in an email to BK Reader.
Since moving to Brooklyn, Monderson has taken on many roles to help improve life in the borough.
This journey started in 1968 when Monderson arrived in Brooklyn from Guyana at age 18. He said he was "a young man with no roots” seeking an education.
“I tried to stay on the right side of the law," Monderson told BK Reader. "Work was sporadic, pay was poor. I ended up going into the army [and] found myself in Vietnam.”
During his service in the Vietnam War, Monderson’s helicopter was shot down and he sustained injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder and agent orange contamination. Despite these difficulties, Monderson does not regret his time in Vietnam — he proudly wore a Vietnam War Veteran baseball cap during his interview with BK Reader. He was awarded the bronze star and 19 air medals for meritorious service.
Following his service, Monderson attended college under the G.I. Bill. He first attended New York City College of Technology and got his associate degree. Next, he went to Hunter College for his bachelor’s degree, and then to John Jay College for another bachelor’s degree followed by an MBA. His last stop was Brooklyn College, where he earned another master’s degree.
“There are a couple of things that are unique in my education,” he said. “I have two B.A.s from [CUNY]; they don’t give you two B.A.s; they give you a B.A. and a B.S. I was able to make a request for a career change, and so became enrolled in the public administration program. I got a B.A. and an MBA from John Jay in public administration.”
Upon completing his education, Monderson started managing city property but soon returned to the classroom, this time as the educator. He began teaching African American and Latin American history as an adjunct professor at City Tech in 1976, then became a public school teacher a decade later. He first taught at Junior High School #265, today known as the Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Secondary School of the Arts in Fort Greene. Next, he taught at Edward R. Murrow High School in Midwood, P.S. 138 in Crown Heights and then M.S. 61 in Crown Heights. Monderson has taught U.S. history, government and English, along with first through third grade.
During his education career, he got into local politics. In 1986, when he tried to run for the school board, he caught the attention of Mary Pinkett, the first Black woman to serve on the City Council, who had dynamic words for Monderson.
“Monderson, I hear you walk on water,” Monderson remembered Pinkett saying.
“I said, ‘No, but I try,’” Monderson said.
Pinkett appointed him to CB 8 in 1987, where he would chair several committees, including environmental, sanitation and transportation. As chairman of the transportation committee, he helped get an elevator installed at the 2 and 3 train station right outside the Brooklyn Museum, and also built several bus shelters.
But renaming streets after local heroes has been Monderson’s biggest contribution, he said. The renamed streets include Pinkett, Dr. Susan Smith McKinney, the late City Council Member James E. Davis, and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress.
Monderson said he believes firmly in not allowing history to slip away — in Brooklyn or elsewhere. To that end, Monderson has traveled to Egypt two dozen times to see its temples and has written 40 books on Egyptology.
Monderson said when he was elected as the Society of Old Brooklynites’ new president, Theodore General told him, “We got the right man.”
“Fred is a well-known civic leader,” General said. “And he brings a lot of savvy, talent, drive and organization skills, which I'm sure will greatly benefit, enhance and strengthen the Society in the years ahead.”
As the new president, Monderson’s goal is to recruit new people, especially veterans and people in Bed-Stuy and Brownsville, where he says some have never heard of the Society. Increasing membership is another goal, especially after the pandemic led to a decline. Currently, the Society has 200 members.
“We need to regroup and rebuild,” Monderson said. “We invite speakers to talk about the borough, but there’s not enough attention. We need to get more people involved.”
