“Camp Delaware and the 5 U.S. Colored Troops”
Saturday, May 10, at 3:00 p.m. at the Oberlin Public Library
The Wilson Bruce Evans Home Historical Society (Evans HHS) announces a presentation by Francine Butler and Mark Butler of the Community Arts Network about Camp Delaware and the 5 U.S. Colored Troops, the Civil War regiment that trained there. Mainly from Ohio, these African American men trained in a segregated facility about 25 miles north of Columbus after the Emancipation Proclamation eased their way into the Union Army. The Butlers will talk about the importance of recognizing Ohio’s African American Civil War soldiers, their contributions to the nation in their day, and their significance to us today.
The presentation will include excerpts from the film the Butlers produced, which was based on live performances at Ohio Wesleyan University and in Maysville, Ohio. Drawing on important primary sources, the film contains excerpts from speeches by Civil War era political figures including John Mercer Langston, letters written by Black soldiers, including Medal of Honor recipient Milton Holland, and performances of period music. This presentation is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by Evans HHS , the Oberlin Heritage Center and the Oberlin African American Genealogy and History Group. Donations made at the event will benefit the Community Arts Network Performing Arts Scholarship. The scholarship is open to Ohio graduating high school Seniors who will be attending an Ohio college or university to pursue a degree in the performing arts. For information on the scholarship, go to http://communityartsnetworkoh.org/scholarships/.