Reminiscing & Rejoicing:
An Exhibition of African American History
Saturday. February 22, 2003 – Saturday, March 29, 2003
Reminiscing & Rejoicing: An Exhibition of African
American History was presented at the Fort Pitt Museum as a publicly listed
exhibition grounded in original primary sources that document the central and
enduring role African Americans have played in shaping the United States. As
recorded in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (February 21, 2003, p. 59), the
exhibition was open to the public through March 29, 2003.
Rather than relying on retrospective interpretation, the
exhibition drew directly from historical evidence-letters, legal instruments,
printed laws, photographs, contracts, and cultural ephemera-to tell a story
that is inseparable from the nation’s own development. From the late eighteenth
century through the modern civil-rights era, these documents trace African
American experience through bondage and dispossession, through resistance and
reform, and into public authority, intellectual leadership, artistic
achievement, and civic participation.
Visitors encountered the lived reality of slavery through
bills of sale, birth notices, estate records, and court documents; the
emergence of abolition and early antislavery law through contemporary printings
of the Northwest Ordinance and first-person petitions for justice; and the
post-emancipation assertion of citizenship through official records signed by
African American officeholders, educators, scientists, and activists. Personal
correspondence and signed artifacts-from Frederick Douglass and George Washington
Carver to Rosa Parks and August Wilson-revealed both public leadership and
private constraint, underscoring the human cost and persistence behind historic
change.
While the exhibition confronted chapters marked by
brutality, injustice, and exclusion, it also documented resilience,
achievement, and agency. Reminiscing & Rejoicing presented African
American history as a continuing record of progress: not inevitable, not
abstract, but built through effort, intellect, creativity, and moral resolve.
These primary sources made clear that African Americans were not peripheral to
the American story-they were, and remain, central to it.
By situating African American history within the walls of
the Fort Pitt Museum-an institution traditionally focused on the French and
Indian War and the American Revolution-the exhibition expanded the interpretive
lens of Western Pennsylvania’s past and emphasized the integral presence of
African Americans across every era of the nation’s history.
Fort Pitt Museum Exhibit Title Card and Acknowledgements
An Exhibition of African American History
The history of African Americans is in fact the history
of all Americans. Not only does African American history date back to just
after the first British settlements in North America, but it would be difficult
to imagine what America would be without the many sacrifices and contributions
of African Americans. From fighting for American independence to developing new
technologies, African Americans have contributed to all facets of our society.
While much of this history is marred by brutality and
sadness, it is graced with triumph, joy, and a spirit to overcome. African
American history is a story of progress. The march for African American
equality has been a long and difficult one. From the shackles of bondage to the
prejudice of segregation, African Americans have persevered.
The staff of the Fort Pitt Museum gratefully acknowledged
the following individuals and families for their assistance in presenting this
exhibition:
· Mr.
Emory Biko
· Mr.
John Connolly
· Mr.
John L. Ford
· Mr.
Seth Kaller
· The
Klos Family
· Mr.
John Mattox
· Mr.
W. H. Wood and Karen Wood
Context of the Exhibition
·
Timing: The exhibition ran from late
February through March 2003, bridging Black History Month and the spring
exhibition season.
·
Venue: Presented at the Fort Pitt Museum
in Point State Park, the exhibition broadened the museum’s historical focus by
foregrounding African American presence and contribution across multiple
periods.
·
Significance: In the early 2000s,
exhibitions grounded in primary sources such as this reflected a broader
institutional shift toward inclusive, evidence-based public history that
acknowledged communities long underrepresented in traditional narratives.
Exhibit Card Reads: Slavery existed in North America from the early seventeenth century until the end of the Civil War. Enslaved Africans and their descendants were treated as property under the law and were bought, sold, inherited, and mortgaged. Their labor contributed significantly to the economic development of the colonies and later the United States.
Documents such as bills of sale, estate inventories, and auction broadsides reveal the routine commodification of human beings. These records list men, women, and children alongside livestock, land, and household goods. The language of these documents reflects the legal framework that defined enslaved people as chattel property.
At the same time, resistance to slavery emerged through petitions, legal challenges, and organized abolition movements. African Americans and their allies appealed to legislatures and courts, laying groundwork for eventual emancipation. The struggle to reconcile liberty with slavery would culminate in the Civil War and the abolition of slavery in 1865.
I. Slavery, Emancipation & Antebellum America
- Terry, Thomas (Sr. & Jr.) - Pennsylvania “Slave Deed of Life,” a rare Northern document exploiting post-abolition grandfather clauses. (June 16, 1787; recorded September 24, 1787)
- Morris, Lewis - Slave bill of sale signed by a signer of the Declaration of Independence, exposing the contradiction between liberty and slavery. (February 4, 1792)
- Alexander,
Joseph - Slave bill of sale documenting the transfer of two enslaved
girls, Sal and Dorea, illustrating routine commodification of human lives.
(November 10, 1806)
- Bates,
Abraham - New York City slave birth notice recording the births of
enslaved children Julia and Sam to a woman named Dinah. (March 15,
1805)
- Didlake,
William - Slave bill of sale for two enslaved boys, Allen and George,
Dallas County, Georgia. (February 1, 1844)
- Sloan, E.B.D. (Executor) - Executor’s slave bill of sale for a young girl named Emily. (March 14, 1848)
- Isaac - Grand jury indictment for the murder of an enslaved man named Isaac, Decatur County, Georgia. (February 26–27, 1854)
Buffalo Soldiers: Service on the
Western Frontier
This display represents the material culture of African
American soldiers who served in the United States Army following the Civil War.
The case includes a late nineteenth-century U.S. Army cavalry uniform with
yellow branch trim, a cavalry hat with yellow cord, curved military saber,
cartridge belt, long service rifle, period revolver, leather boots, bedroll and
field gear, lantern, and supporting interpretive materials including a framed
document and mounted illustration of cavalry in action.
The yellow trim and hat cord identify cavalry service, the
traditional branch color of mounted units. The weaponry and equipment reflect
the standard issue arms carried by soldiers during western frontier campaigns
in the decades following the Civil War.
This installation is directly connected to: Day, Abram -
U.S. Army discharge voucher for a Buffalo Soldier of the 24th Infantry Regiment
(May 13, 1875).
Together, these artifacts interpret African American
military service in the post-Civil War United States Army, including the 9th
and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry Regiments. Known collectively
as “Buffalo Soldiers,” these units played a significant role in
Reconstruction-era western expansion, frontier defense, and the protection of
settlers, railroads, and national infrastructure.
The case underscores the transition from emancipation to federal service, illustrating how formerly enslaved men and free African Americans entered national military service and helped shape the development of the American West.
- Batchelder, John M. (publisher) - Tri-colored Civil War broadside comparing the resources of Free and Slave States. (1861)
- Chaires,
Benjamin - Civil War estate receipt listing five enslaved individuals
as distributed property. (April 1, 1862)
- [Lincoln, Abraham] - Preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation published for the Army War Department printing, removed from “General Orders, War Department, Adjutant General Office, 1862.” On three printed pages (7 5/8 x 5 in.; 193 x 127 mm) on a bifolium, signed in type by Lincoln, Secretary of State William H. Seward, and Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas
- Batchelder, John M. (publisher) - Bird’s-eye view map of the Gettysburg Battlefield, 1863, title: Gettysburg Battle-field
- Nash, D.G. - Letter requesting to hire out enslaved labor for 1865, written weeks before the collapse of slavery. (December 26, 1864)
- Harper’s
Weekly (New York) - Illustrated newspaper coverage explaining the
ratification and national significance of the Thirteenth Amendment
abolishing slavery. (1865)
- Davis, Jefferson - Autograph letter signed, Lennoxville, Canada, November 11, 1867, with original holograph envelope to J.D. Corse, discussing the uncertainty of his anticipated treason trial following release on bond. Davis expresses intent to return to Richmond if required, though he ultimately was never tried. The letter reflects the unresolved legal aftermath of the Civil War and Davis’s refusal to seek a pardon, believing it would imply guilt.
- Guilfoyle, John F. - Buffalo Soldier Commissions Collection (1877–1911)
- Collection of four vellum documents tracing the military career of John Francis Guilfoyle, officer and later Colonel of the 9th U.S. Cavalry (“Buffalo Soldiers”), one of only eleven recipients of the Silver Star citation to the Indian Wars Medal.
- Day, Abram - U.S. Army discharge voucher for a Buffalo Soldier of the 24th Infantry Regiment. (May 13, 1875)
Exhibit Card Transcription
Freedom in America was not fully realized for African Americans. In the South, and often elsewhere, a system of legal segregation developed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Known as “Jim Crow,” this system sought to separate races in schools, transportation, housing, and public accommodations.
As time went on, state and local governments enacted laws that restricted African Americans’ access to public facilities and civic life. These laws were reinforced by intimidation, violence, and organized white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.
The Supreme Court of the United States upheld segregation in the 1896 case of Plessy v. Ferguson, declaring that “separate but equal” facilities were constitutional. In reality, facilities provided to African Americans were inferior in quality and funding.
In addition to legalized segregation, racial terror, economic discrimination, and social exclusion reinforced the system. African American newspapers, civic organizations, and community leaders worked to expose injustice and to challenge discriminatory practices.
The system of segregation ultimately weakened, though not without significant resistance, sacrifice, and sustained activism. Through the efforts of civil rights advocates, the legal foundation of segregation was dismantled in the mid-twentieth century.
- American Museum (Philadelphia) - Printed excerpt featuring Belinda’s Petition, an enslaved African woman’s appeal to the Massachusetts legislature for restitution, with an accompanying abolitionist “Address to the Heart.” (June 1787, pp. 463–465)
- Franklin, Benjamin (in type) - Constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. (May 1787)
- Connecticut
Courant (Hartford) - Newspaper printing of the full text of the
Northwest Ordinance under the headline “An ORDINANCE for the GOVERNMENT
of the TERRITORY of the UNITED STATES, North-West of the RIVER OHIO,”
including its Article VI's prohibition of slavery and involuntary servitude (July 30, 1787).
- Indiana Territory – Emancipation Manuscript, 1810 - Harrison County manuscript in which David Enlow relinquishes “all my right title and interest” in Sarah, who had bound herself to four years’ service beginning January 1, 1807; signed and recorded September–October 1810, documenting the contested enforcement of Article VI of the Northwest Ordinance.
- Sumner, Charles - Autograph Senate letter from the leading Radical Republican and abolitionist senator. (February 6, 1852)
- Douglass,
Frederick - Deed signed in his official capacity as Recorder of Deeds
for the District of Columbia. (October 13, 1884)
- Bruce,
Blanche K. - Official document signed as Recorder of Deeds for the
District of Columbia. (1890)
Exhibit Card Transcription: "Black contributions to North American history are often overlooked, neglected, or minimized. African Americans have contributed to every phase of American history, from colonial times to the modern era. These contributions are an integral element of America’s historical narrative. Their presence in the nation’s development is profound and undeniable.
America’s early expansion, the abolition of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement were deeply shaped by African American participation and sacrifice. Despite the persistent barriers imposed by law and custom, African Americans have maintained a resilient commitment to equality, justice, and opportunity.
Much of the history surrounding these efforts is marked by struggle, hardship, and injustice. Yet the enduring strength, perseverance, and courage of African Americans stand as a testament to the continuing pursuit of liberty, civil rights, and dignity."
- King,
Martin Luther, Jr. - Full printed text of Letter from a Birmingham
Jail, boldly signed, written during incarceration in the Birmingham
Campaign. (Written April 16, 1963)
- Rustin, Bayard - Signed photograph of the chief organizer of the March on Washington. (mid-20th century)
- Davis, Angela - Personally signed card inscribed “In Struggle.” (c. 1970s)
- Haley,
Alex - Signed copy of Roots with inscriptions and photographs. (October
6, 1976)
- Carmichael, Stokely (Ture, Kwame) - Personally signed card bearing the inscription “The only solution to the problems in America is socialist Revolution” reflecting Pan-African revolutionary ideology. (June 20, 1977)
- Parks, Rosa - Autograph letter signed declining a request for a photograph due to financial constraints. (June 16, 1982)
- Tutu, Desmond - Signed first-day issue envelope commemorating Christmas. (October 19, 1989)
- Wilson,
August - Signed program from Affirmation of the Blues, Carnegie
Lecture Hall, Pittsburgh. (March 16, 1998)
- Mitchell,
Arthur - Signed contract relating to the Dance Theatre of Harlem. (20th
century)
- Zane,
Arnie - Signed performance contract and letter from pioneering modern
dance collaborator with Bill T. Jones. (c. 1970s–1980s)
- -
- Black colonial doll labeled “I’se From Williamsburg,” reflecting
racialized material culture. (20th century)
VI. Music & Jazz History
- Basie,
William “Count” - Signed theater program for Count Basie and His
Orchestra. (1964)
- Calloway,
Cab - Signed photograph of jazz bandleader and cultural icon. (mid-20th
century)
- Farmer,
Art - Signed performance photograph of the jazz trumpeter. (late
20th century)
- Holiday,
Billie - Signed artists’ engagement contract for two evening
performances. (September 8, 1958)
- Jamal,
Ahmad - Signed photograph of Pittsburgh-born jazz pianist and
composer. (mid-late 20th century)
- Taylor,
Billy - Signed photograph of jazz pianist, educator, and broadcaster. (late
20th century)
- Preston,
Billy - Signed photograph of gospel-rooted keyboardist and rock
collaborator. (late 20th century)
- Guy,
Buddy - Signed photograph of Chicago blues pioneer. (2001)
- Vereen, Ben - Signed acting rider documenting Broadway and film performance history. (late 20th century)
- Russell,
Bill - Signed and inscribed first printing of Russell Rules: 11
Lessons on Leadership. (2001)
- Greer,
Harold “Hal” - Signed photograph of NBA Hall of Famer. (December
31, 1997)
- Hastings,
Andre - Signed NFL action photograph with the New Orleans Saints. (December
13, 1998)
- Saperstein, Abe (founder) - Official Harlem Globetrotters program for the 27th season, matted with 1950s black-and-white team photographs signed by Ermer Robinson, Clarence Wilson, Bill Garrett, Walter Dukes, Inman Jackson, Bill Besede, Marques Haynes, and “Wee” Willie Garner, documenting the team’s barnstorming era at the height of its global popularity. (Season 1953–1954)
- Harris,
Charles “Teenie” - Signed photograph with American Mutual Benefit
Association card, documenting African American life through the Pittsburgh
Courier. (mid-20th century)
- Smith,
Dewey - Pittsburgh-based African American photographer, Wylie Avenue
studio. (20th century)
- Moss,
Ted - Photographer associated with Pittsburgh’s Black community. (20th
century)
- Johnson
Studio - Centre Avenue photography studio serving Pittsburgh’s African
American population. (20th century)
- Cole, Nat King - Promotional contract granting Schenley Industries use of his name and likeness, signed in ink “Nat King Cole,” documenting his commercial prominence during the era in which he hosted The Nat King Cole Show, the first nationally broadcast television series led by a Black American. (c. 1956–1957)
- Washington, Booker T. - Signed fundraising letter on Tuskegee Institute letterhead. (April 4, 1904)
- Carver,
George Washington - Autograph letter signed on Tuskegee Normal and
Industrial Institute stationery discussing botanical research and peanut
cultivation. (June 9, 1931)
- Lewis, Abraham Lincoln - American Beach license-plate topper representing Black economic independence and leisure culture. (c. 1935)
- Teer, Barbara Ann - A Typed letter signed, as National Black Theater President, on Black Art 7 x 10-inch folded Card, July 2, 1998, to Torrance Mathis Founder & CEO C.H.A.N.G.E.
X. Entertainment, Broadcasting & Modern Culture
- Baker,
Anita - Signed photograph of soul and R&B vocalist. (late 20th
century)
- Bailey, Pearl (1918–1988) - Performance contract rider with orchestra plot between Pearl Bailey and Drury Lane Martinique (per Tony DeSantis), signed by Bailey. (March 25, 1985; 4 pages)
- Boyz
II Men - Signed sheet-music cover for “I’ll Make Love to You.” (1990s)
- Cosby,
Bill - Signed copy of Fatherhood. (1986)
- Reese,
Della - Signed photograph of singer, actress, and ordained minister. (late
20th century)
- McQueen,
Thelma “Butterfly” - Signed check illustrating the economic afterlife
of early Hollywood Black performers. (December 6, 1984)
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