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U.S. Colored Troops
Institute
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On
September 20 and 21, 2002, United
States Colored Troops Institute held its Regional Conference in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, at the National Civil War Museum. Although the focus
of this national symposium is on the role of the United States Colored
Troops in the Civil War, the Harrisburg conference paid tribute to Thomas
Morris Chester, described in its pamphlet as "Harrisburg's most
distinguished African American of the Civil War period." |
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fter the ceremony unveiling the new tombstone for T. Morris Chester at Lincoln Cemetery, the conference continued at the National Civil War Museum with a welcome from Harry Bradshaw Matthews, President and Senior Fellow of the United States Colored Troops Institute for Local History and Family Research at Hartwick College, Oneonta, New York. An oil portrait of T. Morris Chester, a gift to the National Civil War Museum, was unveiled, and two concurrent sessions featuring presentations by eight historians followed in the afternoon. The photographs below are from the late morning portion of the conference. Some are click-able to view larger images. « Left: Edmund Dudley, President of the Harrisburg chapter of the United States Colored Troops Institute welcomes guests to the first conference in the National Symposium, held in Harrisburg. Harry Bradshaw Matthews stands to Mr. Dudley's right. Sponsors of the Harrisburg Symposium were the United States Colored Troops Institute, Ronald H. Brown Charter School and The National Civil War Museum. Supporters included The City of Harrisburg, The Greater Harrisburg Foundation, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Downtown Improvement District, Johnson, Duffie, Stewart & Weidner, Auchincloss & Auchincloss Marketing & Communications, South Philly Hoagies, Eloise & Edmund Dudley, Cannon Cleaning Company, and J & D Emporium. Conferences are scheduled through 2004 in Rochester, NY, Columbia, MD, Detroit, MI and Charleston, SC.
Click for a larger image.
Noting that many of the descendants of Chester present at the conference were born in Liberia, the Richardsons said "We come from two continents, yet we come as one family." Click for a larger image.
Jackson thanked Richardson and the Chester descendants, saying it was "one of the proudest moments of my life." Click for a larger image.
» Portrait of Thomas Morris Chester. Click for a larger image. All photos on this page and on the next page are by George F. Nagle and are property of Afrolumens. Please contact the site editor for permission to republish photos. |
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This page was updated 31 August 2007.