The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, located in the Allen County Public Library, is proud to announce its new exhibit, “The United States Colored Troops,” opening on January 8, 2025.
News release from the Allen County Public Library:
Rolland Center for Lincoln Research Announces New Exhibit Celebrating United States Colored Troops
Fort Wayne, Indiana (January 8, 2025) – The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, located in the Allen County Public Library, is proud to announce its new exhibit, “The United States Colored Troops,” opening on January 8. The exhibit will run through April 1and will shine a spotlight on the vital role of Black Union soldiers in the struggle for freedom during the Civil War.
In keeping with the Rolland Center’s ongoing commitment to honoring Black history year-round, this exhibit features rare and compelling artifacts, including a fine art lithograph depicting the United States Colored Troops. Nearly 180,000 African American men fought for the Union cause, marking one of the most significant contributions to the nation’s fight for freedom.
A key feature of the exhibit is a famous photograph of Gordon, a formerly enslaved man who escaped to Union lines, emancipated himself, and went on to serve in the Union Army. His image, showing the scars of abuse from his captors, became an iconic representation of the horrors of enslavement and the resilience of those who fought for freedom. This powerful exhibit will join other Lincoln-era photographs, letters, documents, and art currently on display.
“We are excited to present this exhibit as part of our commitment to celebrating African American history and the invaluable contributions of Black Americans,” said Curt Witcher, ACPL Director of Special Collections. “Through these materials, we aspire to honor the legacy of those who fought for freedom, as well as inspire further exploration of African American history and culture in the Genealogy Center and the library’s circulating collections.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public during normal library hours. More information can be found here.
About the Allen County Public Library
The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) has fostered lifelong learning and discovery in northeast Indiana for more than 125 years. The ACPL consists of fourteen branches throughout Allen County, serving more than one million visitors per year. The ACPL’s collection includes more than 2.7 million items, with a circulation total of 4.2 million items borrowed annually. It also houses The Genealogy Center, the nation’s largest public genealogy research center, and The Rolland Center for Lincoln Research, consisting of more than 30,000 artifacts related to President Abraham Lincoln.
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