Death, Tech, & Afrofuturism: Juneteenth Harrisburg Join us for a compelling journey through time as Rachael Keri Williams, founder and Executive Director of SOAL: Saving Our Ancestors’ Legacy, delivers an inspiring talk titled “Death, Tech, & Afrofuturism” in this video from the YPOC 2024 Juneteenth Harrisburg Summit, held on June 18th at … Continue reading →
List Update: Harrisburg’s Civil War Veterans Buried at Lincoln Cemetery An update to the list of Harrisburg’s Black Civil War Veterans buried in Lincoln Cemetery: No. 133: Henry C. Keith “Harry Keath” Private Co. B 8th USCT No. 134: Albert Chamberlain Corporal Co. F 25th USCT For the original list Harrisburg’s Civil … Continue reading →
Civil War Veteran: Henry C. Keith in the 8th USCT Civil War veteran Henry C. Keith served in the 8th United States Colored Troops (Pvt. Co. B 8th USCT) which placed him at the heart of some of the Civil War’s most pivotal and harrowing moments. The 8th US Colored Infantry was … Continue reading →
Black Civil War Veterans Organize First G.A.R. Post #520 The G.A.R. was the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization formed by and for veterans of the Civil War, and no one else. The Gustavus V. Catto Post, No. 520, was the first name of the only GAR post formed by and … Continue reading →
Harrisburg’s Civil War Veterans Buried at Lincoln Cemetery This list is by no means complete, but I figure if I keep waiting until it is complete, I would never be able to publish it… While compiling this, long-overdue, list of African American Civil War Veterans buried at Lincoln Cemetery, I realized that … Continue reading →
Was one of the Civil War Veterans buried in Lincoln Cemetery one of the Black Men executed in Harrisburg in 1874? Was John Preston involved in the Behm murder? I was searching for background information on John Preston, a Civil War Veteran, with an elusive background, when I found him on trial … Continue reading →
Isaac William France Ex-Slave, Storyteller, Elocutionist, Singer Isaac William France was an ex-slave, a lover of poetry and a master storyteller. His tales, and personal association with leading figures in both the Confederate and Union armies positioned Isaac as a highly sought-after speaker in Harrisburg. On at least one occasion he was … Continue reading →
The Voice of Black Women Civil War Activists When Jane Welcome wrote to President Lincoln on November 21, 1864 both of her sons were serving in the United States Colored Troops. She had received no word or money from her youngest son, Israel, who was serving with the 55th Mass, and had … Continue reading →
Israel Mullin was born between 1814-1820 in Pennsylvania. He married Jane’s daughter Mary Fisher Welcome, owned his own property and land, and built a family with Mary before he joined in the Civil War. He enlisted in Co A of the 43rd USCT on the 9th of March 1864 in Philadelphia. At … Continue reading →
Thomas Morris Chester: Black Civil War Correspondent Thomas Morris Chester was the third child of George and Jane Chester, born in Harrisburg on May 11, 1834. He died in Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 30, 1892, aged 58 and was buried in Harrisburg Lincoln Cemetery. Inheriting his mother’s courage, he created his legacy through … Continue reading →
