African-American History Reading List

The Chemung County Library District in conjunction with the Southern Tier Library System, offer a large number of items about African American History for library patrons of all ages in all formats. Please join Owen Frank, Head of Adult & Reference Services at Chemung County Library District--Central Branch (Steele Memorial) on Thursday, February 28^th at the Chemung County Historical Society as we explore the variety and depth of your library's collection of African American Historical Resources. We will also include a brief demonstration of how to use our online catalog STARCat.

The Civil Rights Movement

by John Liquori

 

“The Long Civil Rights Movement” is a period that Historians have been writing about only recently. When asked about the Civil Rights Movement, most people think of milestones that happened mainly in the South beginning in 1954 with the Brown v. Board of Education ruling that made segregated schools unconstitutional. Historians now debunk that historical stereotype and have moved toward arguing that the LCRM happened all across the United States and had roots far before 1954. In fact, Historians have now agreed that the LCRM was made of local struggles that happened at different times which makes giving the movement a begin date and place almost impossible.

Elmira, NY was no exception and had its own Civil Rights legacy. On Thursday, February 21, I will tell the stories of local Blacks who lived the struggle for racial equality. One of these stories is of Mr. Roland Coleman. Mr. Coleman was a sailor in the United States Navy during and after WWII. His military service was unique and extraordinary because he was part of the integration plan that President Harry Truman implemented in 1948. One experience he remembers vividly during the integration in the military was going to see a movie with his division. Seating was segregated, with the black seating roped off from the where the whites sat. Against seating rules, Mr. Coleman decided to sit in the middle of the white section. His decision drew an awkward response as he felt unwelcome by the whites and was viewed as a traitor by the blacks.

 Mr. Coleman’s story is one of many that will be told for the first time in the discussion on the history of Elmira. My presentation will begin the conversation on Civil Rights history in Elmira. For the first time, the struggle for racial equality will be a part of the discussion on local history. The struggle was difficult and racism was deeply engrained in Elmira. I will use stories, testimonies, and other primary sources from the locals who lived the struggle to paint a picture of Elmira that has never before been seen—a history that should not be ignored. The stories and the narration of the Civil Rights era are ones that defined a generation of struggle, sacrifice, and an extraordinary movement that changed Elmira, the United States, and the entire world.

Please join us Thursday night at 7pm to hear these stories and much more. The lecture is the third part of our African American History Month lecture series.

The Frederick Douglas Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church

On Thursday, February 14^th, Rev. Michael Bell will be presenting a History of the Frederick Douglas A.M.E. Zion Church as part of our African-American History Month lecture series.  Elmira’s A.M.E. Zion Church has over 100 years of history within our community.  Listen to Rev. Bell as he shares the history of his church on the birthday of its namesake.  The lecture will be held at 7:00pm at the Chemung Valley History Museum.  It is free and open to the public.

A.M.E. Zion Church in Elmira

The Church was established by a group of escaped slaves who had found refuge in Elmira.  The founding was inspired by an anti-slavery lecture given here in 1840 by Frederick Douglass, also an escaped slave, after whom the Church was named.  Early religious services were held in private homes but as the mission quickly grew and more space was needed, a church was built.  The primary goals of the Douglass Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church are to promote Christianity, good will, and to serve the needs of the community in every capacity.

Historic Marker erected in 2010

1894 Handbill

126th Anniversary Booklet

Commemorative Plate, 1967

John Denny and the Buffalo Soldiers

By Rachel Dworkin, Archivist

After the exemplary conduct shown by Colored units during the Civil War, the United States Congress created several all African-American peacetime regiments.  These regiments included the 9^th and 10^th Cavalries and the 24^th and 25^th Infantries.  Although the nickname Buffalo Soldiers was originally given to the men of the 10^th Cavalry, it later came to be used for all of the all-black regiments formed in 1866. 

         

The Buffalo Soldiers saw service throughout the Plains States and the American Southwest as well as the Spanish-American War (1898), the Philippine-American War (1899-1903) and the Mexican Expedition (1916).  They are most famously know for their role in the so-called Indian Wars during the country’s westward expansion.  Although they faced systemic discrimination from the army as a whole and were sometimes attacked by the very people they were fighting to protect, 19 Buffalo Soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valiant service.

         

One of those men was local hero John Denny.  Born in 1846, Denny was the oldest son of a family who owned and operated at 75-acre tobacco farm on the Olcott Road in Big Flats.  He joined the army at the Elmira army recruitment station at age 21 in 1867 and seemingly never looked back.  On  September 18, 1879, Denny  was serving as a Sergeant in Company C of the 9^th Cavalry Regiment.  The company   was ambushed by a band of Apaches in Las Animas Canyon, New Mexico.  They were trapped under heavy sniper fire for most of the day and, as darkness fell and ammunition started to run dry, the Captain ordered a retreat.  One man, Pvt. Freeland, lay injured nearly 400 yards from both his fellow soldiers and the nearest cover.  Denny broke cover and ran to retrieve the other man, hauling him back to safety under heavy fire. 

Although Denny was recommended for a citation soon after, it wouldn’t be until December 1894 when he was issued the Medal of Honor and another month until he was formally presented with it.  Denny continued to serve in the army until he retired after 30 years in uniform in 1897.  He settled in Maryland rather than return to Big Flats.  He died in 1901 and is buried in the Unites States Soldiers’ Home Cemetery in Washington, D.C.   

Join us Thursday night at 7pm to see The Buffalo Soldiers an award winning documentary on the history of the brave men who served with the 9^th and 10^th Cavalries.  The film is part of our African-American History Month lecture series happening each Thursday this month at 7pm.