Yes, it was, Bill. I think it was even called the Wormley Agreement. Interesting story. Several years ago, Surratt House Museum did a small exhibit on James Wormley as part of a larger exhibit on Washington, DC history. There were several well-known and well-respected black restaurateurs in DC before and during the Civil War. Another one with interesting history is Beverly Snow, who is tied to one of the first anti-black riots -- this one in August of 1835, that is referred to as the August-Snow Storm. Francis Scott Key was one of the lawyers in the subsequent trial.
Also, please read the good history here:
http://www.whitehousehistory.org/wormley-hotel Look under the photos and you'll see a familiar credit name.
Mr. Graves, I'm sure you have seen this:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/...-200202A22 Are you by any chance the gentleman who owns this collection?
"Phantoms" at Lincoln's deathbed
