In respect for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of Negro History Week
[current African American History Month], the Matthews Collection,
supporting the United States Colored Troops Institute for Local History and
Family Research at Hartwick College, has contributed to the publishing of
the following two brochures for public distribution:

A. 51 African American Classics [spanning a time from 1855-1966, including
the listing of several of Dr. Woodson's book];

B. United Colored Troops Institute; 25 Brief Answers [revealing historical
events during the Civil War period];

In addition, the December 2004 issue of the USCT Civil War Digest [a
four-page newsletter] is dedicated to Sister-Soldiers with a picture of Army
Spec. Shoshana Johnson and a letter from the Women In Military Service for
America Memorial, Inc. that places Spec. Johnson's prisoner-of-war status
within an historic context. Brochures are available @ $1 donation for each;
the December issue of the USCT Civil War Digest is available @ $2 donation
for each. All checks payable to "Hartwick College" in support of the USCT
Institute.

The Matthews Collection continues to expand with the recovery of materials,
e.g., books, pictures, newspapers, that share the heroic role of African
American soldiers from the Revolutionary War through World War II, as well
as books that spans the Freedom Journey. Many of the titles can be viewed at

http://www.hartwick.edu/usct/usct.htm

Harry Bradshaw Matthews, Associate Dean
and Director, U.S. Pluralism Programs
Hartwick College

[President, USCT Institute]









African American History Theme 2004: Brown vs. Board of Education [50th
Anniversary]



In respect for the 2004 theme, I submit that it would be reasonable to give
some attention and discussion to the Civil Rights Babies, those who became
the experiments in the “integration” of school rooms following the historic
Supreme Court decision. I believe that the recorded history of these freedom
fighters need as much attention and examination as those who fought for the
rights of the Civil Rights Babies to become experiments in social
engineering. What are the stories of  those young children who were enrolled
in schools between 1955 and 1960? What are the stories of those teenagers
who ventured off to "integrate" historical white colleges, particularly the
mass group of 1970?

2. In respect for the heroics of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, this would be a good
time to explore how far the U.S. military has come in elevating African
American soldiers to the same level of respect as given white soldiers.

3. With African American history now shared and celebrated from a global
perspective,  have too many Afro-Americans relinguished the responsibility
for sharing the unique experiences of their American ancestors?

 In respect for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of Negro History Week
[current African American History Month], the Matthews Collection,
supporting the United States Colored Troops Institute for Local History and
Family Research at Hartwick College, has contributed to the producing of the
following two brochures for public distribution:

A. 51 African American Classics;

B. United Colored Troops Institute; 25 Brief Answers [historical events
during the Civil War period];

In addition, the new issue of the USCT Civil War Digest [a four-page
newsletter] is dedicated Sister-Soldiers with a picture of Army Spec.
Shoshana Johnson and a letter from the Women In Military Service for America
Memorial, Inc. that places Spec. Johnson prisoner-of-war status within an
historic context




now includes the following historic texts:

A.