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Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

This photograph shows the men of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, positioned in front of the guard house at Fort Leavenworth. The battery, organized in June 1864, was one of just a handful of Union units led by African American officers. Its commander, Captain H. Ford Douglas, worked tirelessly to better the conditions under which his men served. Of the 208 enlisted men in the battery, more than 160 were recruited from Leavenworth. Others came from Fort Scott, Kansas, and the Wyandotte and Quindaro communities in what is now Kansas City, Kansas.

Battle of Island Mound

Battle of Island Mound

This illustration from the March 14, 1863, issue of Harper’s Weekly magazine — titled “A Negro Regiment in Action” — depicts the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri, in October 1862.

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason was a law enforcement trailblazer, working 39 years in the Kansas City Police Department and serving as its first African American female officer.

William D. Matthews

William D. Matthews

Lt. William Dominick Matthews was an African American officer of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, at Fort Leavenworth.

William Messley

William Messley

First Sergeant William A. Messley (also known as Measley) of Company C, 62nd United States Colored Troops, posed for this portrait shortly after his enlistment in late 1863. The 62nd originated as the 1st Regiment Colored Infantry, Missouri Volunteers.

Wayne Miner

Wayne Miner

The brief yet distinguished life of Wayne Miner was defined by sacrifice and valor. The son of former slaves, Miner was born in 1890 in Henry County, Missouri.

N. Clark Smith

N. Clark Smith

Maj. N. Clark Smith was a prominent musician, composer, and instructor and one of the most accomplished African American bandmasters of the early 20th century.

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette Alonzo Tillman is remembered most for being one of Kansas City’s first African American police officers.

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was the first African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army — in a time when women were prohibited from serving.

Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

This photograph shows the men of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, positioned in front of the guard house at Fort Leavenworth. The battery, organized in June 1864, was one of just a handful of Union units led by African American officers. Its commander, Captain H. Ford Douglas, worked tirelessly to better the conditions under which his men served. Of the 208 enlisted men in the battery, more than 160 were recruited from Leavenworth. Others came from Fort Scott, Kansas, and the Wyandotte and Quindaro communities in what is now Kansas City, Kansas.

Battle of Island Mound

Battle of Island Mound

This illustration from the March 14, 1863, issue of Harper’s Weekly magazine — titled “A Negro Regiment in Action” — depicts the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri, in October 1862.

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason was a law enforcement trailblazer, working 39 years in the Kansas City Police Department and serving as its first African American female officer.

William D. Matthews

William D. Matthews

Lt. William Dominick Matthews was an African American officer of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, at Fort Leavenworth.

William Messley

William Messley

First Sergeant William A. Messley (also known as Measley) of Company C, 62nd United States Colored Troops, posed for this portrait shortly after his enlistment in late 1863. The 62nd originated as the 1st Regiment Colored Infantry, Missouri Volunteers.

Wayne Miner

Wayne Miner

The brief yet distinguished life of Wayne Miner was defined by sacrifice and valor. The son of former slaves, Miner was born in 1890 in Henry County, Missouri.

N. Clark Smith

N. Clark Smith

Maj. N. Clark Smith was a prominent musician, composer, and instructor and one of the most accomplished African American bandmasters of the early 20th century.

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette Alonzo Tillman is remembered most for being one of Kansas City’s first African American police officers.

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was the first African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army — in a time when women were prohibited from serving.

Edward Wade Wilson Jr.

Edward Wade Wilson Jr.

More than a century after the Kansas City Fire Department was established, Edward Wade Wilson became its first African American chief, capping a trailblazing career of nearly 46 years.

Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

Colored Battery at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

This photograph shows the men of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, positioned in front of the guard house at Fort Leavenworth. The battery, organized in June 1864, was one of just a handful of Union units led by African American officers. Its commander, Captain H. Ford Douglas, worked tirelessly to better the conditions under which his men served. Of the 208 enlisted men in the battery, more than 160 were recruited from Leavenworth. Others came from Fort Scott, Kansas, and the Wyandotte and Quindaro communities in what is now Kansas City, Kansas.

Battle of Island Mound

Battle of Island Mound

This illustration from the March 14, 1863, issue of Harper’s Weekly magazine — titled “A Negro Regiment in Action” — depicts the Battle of Island Mound, Missouri, in October 1862.

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason

Rosie Mason was a law enforcement trailblazer, working 39 years in the Kansas City Police Department and serving as its first African American female officer.

William D. Matthews

William D. Matthews

Lt. William Dominick Matthews was an African American officer of the Independent Battery, U.S. Colored Light Artillery, at Fort Leavenworth.

William Messley

William Messley

First Sergeant William A. Messley (also known as Measley) of Company C, 62nd United States Colored Troops, posed for this portrait shortly after his enlistment in late 1863. The 62nd originated as the 1st Regiment Colored Infantry, Missouri Volunteers.

Wayne Miner

Wayne Miner

The brief yet distinguished life of Wayne Miner was defined by sacrifice and valor. The son of former slaves, Miner was born in 1890 in Henry County, Missouri.

N. Clark Smith

N. Clark Smith

Maj. N. Clark Smith was a prominent musician, composer, and instructor and one of the most accomplished African American bandmasters of the early 20th century.

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette A. Tillman

Lafayette Alonzo Tillman is remembered most for being one of Kansas City’s first African American police officers.

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams

Cathay Williams was the first African American woman to enlist in the U.S. Army — in a time when women were prohibited from serving.

Edward Wade Wilson Jr.

Edward Wade Wilson Jr.

More than a century after the Kansas City Fire Department was established, Edward Wade Wilson became its first African American chief, capping a trailblazing career of nearly 46 years.