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African Americans Fight for the Union

The Civil War was a turning point in black history for many reasons. After Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, free blacks saw their chance to fight for their country. By doing so, African Americans hoped to show their worthiness to be treated as equal citizens. However, African Americans were not exactly welcomed into the Union military with open arms. While slavery was banned in many Northern states, the border states that were fighting for the Union still allowed slavery. In addition, racist sentiments were strong in both the North and the South and many whites were not keen on training African American soldiers. In 1863, President authorized the recruitment of African Americans into the and Camp William Penn was built as a training facility for black troops. Explore the significance of Camp William Penn as a turning point in African American history in the collections of the Historical Society.

Search Terms: Camp William Penn; 54th Massachusetts Regiment; Lt. Col. Louis Wagner; United States Colored Troops

Recommended Collections:

Abraham Barker collection on the Free Military School for Applicants for the Command of Colored Regiments (1863-1895) Collection #1968

Henry Charles Coxe letters (1861-1866) Letters from Charles Henry Coxe, a Harvard student, to his brother Frank Morrell Coxe in . Both Charles and Frank, enlist as commissioned officers, in units of colored troops. Charles joined the 24th U. S. C. T. Frank joined as Second Lieutenant in the 87th U. S. Colored Infantry. Accession #2002.030

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Emilie Davis diaries, 1863-1865 Collection#3030

Free Military School for Command of Colored Regiments register and scrapbook (1863-1864 ) Collection# 1968

Leon Gardiner collection of American Negro Historical Society records (1790- 1905) Collection# 0008

A guide book to historic LaMott: the activities at Camp William Penn; the life of ; a history of the Village of LaMott (1974) by David Jenkins Morrison Call # VoM* .699 v.2

*Additional information on Louis Wagner can be found in the PC1 card catalog. Information can also be found in the Afro-Americana catalog in the PC6 card catalog.

Other Sources of Information:

African American Museum of Philadelphia – 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia – www.aampmuseum.org

Camp William Penn Headquarters - 1618 Willow Ave., La Mott, PA – www.usct.org

Dickinson College – House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine – United States Colored Troops collection – http://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/32496 [Type text]

Fold3 – Civil War Collection- www.fold3.com

Pennsylvania Civil War 150 Artifacts – www.pacivilwar150.com