KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) A new historic marker in Keene will recognize the life and legacy of Dr. Albert C. Johnston, an African American physician whose story became nationally known after his family’s experiences were portrayed in the book and 1949 film “Lost Boundaries.”

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, working with the Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition and the Historical Society of Cheshire County, will unveil the marker tomorrow, Saturday, August 15, at 11 a.m. at 127 Washington St., the location of Johnston’s former home and medical office.

The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be available following the ceremony.

Johnston practiced medicine in Keene during a period when racial discrimination restricted professional and social opportunities for Black Americans. He and his family lived as white while in northern New England, a decision made to navigate those barriers.

That changed during World War II, when Johnston was denied a commission in the U.S. Navy because of his race. He subsequently made his African American identity public, challenging the racial assumptions of the predominantly white community in which his family lived.

The Johnston family’s experience later became the foundation for “Lost Boundaries,” a bestselling book and subsequent film released in 1949. The story drew national attention to racism and racial identity in New England, issues that were often overlooked in discussions of the region’s history.

The new marker is intended to preserve that history at the site where much of the Johnston family’s story unfolded and provide a place for education and discussion about race and New Hampshire’s Black history.

Representatives of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the MDEIB Coalition, the Historical Society of Cheshire County and the City of Keene are expected to participate in Saturday’s ceremony. Members of Johnston’s family will join them in unveiling the marker.

The Keene marker is the first historic marker placed in the city by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to documenting and sharing African American history in the state through historic sites, exhibits, educational programs, curriculum development and tours.

The MDEIB Coalition works with residents, businesses and institutions throughout the Monadnock Region to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

The Historical Society of Cheshire County, founded in 1927, collects and preserves the history of the region and offers educational programs, research resources and museum exhibits.

More information about the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is available at www.BHTNH.org. Information about the Historical Society of Cheshire County is available at www.hsccnh.org.