Special Concert using the Words of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Octavius Catto

Announcements
  • When: March 1, 2025 3:00pm
  • Where: Calvary Church, 7910 Washington Lane, Wyncote, PA 19095

You are invited to a special concert by Ruth Naomi Floyd, mezzo-soprano, and the Frederick Douglass Jazz Works ensemble performing music using the words of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Octavius Catto.

The Frederick Douglass Jazz Works is a groundbreaking body of music that honors the legacy of Frederick Douglass, an enslaved African in America who escaped to freedom and became an abolitionist, leading orator, statesman, political activist, writer, banker, ambassador, theologian, and statesman. Led by acclaimed composer, vocalist, and jazz artist Ruth Naomi Floyd, this body of work is comprised of her original compositions paired with Douglass’ words from the speeches and writings illustrated with the rich, powerful, and vibrant sounds of jazz music.

This Church is located on Washington Lane across from the first site of Camp William Penn.

(CWP first and largest federal training camp for black soldiers in the Civil War. It was later relocated to Sycamore Ave in La Mott.)

This is a free concert presented by: Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
Donations may be made at the door. Registration is required. Send name to: werkmanj@verizon.net
Depending on need, transportation from La Mott Community Center may be available.
Register by Feb 25 @ werkmanj@verizon.net You will be advised.

February 2025 Black History Lecture

1 CommentAnnouncements, Events

James Paradis teaches at Arcadia University and recently retired from Doane Academy where he served as Dean of the Upper School and taught for 35 years.  He has authored two books, and contributed to another. He was historical consultant and narrator for documentary film, Black Soldiers in Blue: The Story of Camp William Penn. This lecture is based on a book in progress with the working title, Jeremiah Asher’s War of Rebellion.

Speaking about the remarkable life of “Jeremiah Asher: Preacher and Warrior”

Jeremiah Asher’s grandfather, Gad, taken into slavery as a young child, seized his freedom by fighting in the American Revolution.  A child of a free Black father and a Native American mother, Jeremiah led a group of Black congregants in breaking away from their segregated Hartford church, and founding a new congregation.  In his lifetime he would take a hand in founding four new churches and saving one other.  Coming to Philadelphia as Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, he took an active part in the movement to abolish slavery.  When the Civil War came, he actively recruited Black volunteers for the Union Army.  Asher, himself, enlisted as a chaplain, traveling through campaigns in Virginia and North Carolina with the 6th Regiments of United States Infantry.

Also speaking:

James G. Mundy, historian emeritus, Union League Philadelphia and CROHL Board member, will highlight an artifact from the Camp William Penn Museum.

This is a free Zoom event. Click here at 3:00 to join:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82185499138?pwd=6oxoTgwK2qiR1sIYSMhebmXZ4lSmuO.1

  • Meeting ID: 821 8549 9138
  • Passcode: 421079

This program is presented by CROHL and funded in part by the JenkinsTown Lyceum.

Camp William Penn and Historic La Mott Day 2024

Announcements, Events

Opening Ceremony: 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 21, 2024
Michael Coard, attorney, radio host, activist will be speaker

Where: La Mott Community Center, 7420 Sycamore Ave., La Mott, 19027

Event will acknowledge the 161st anniversary of establishment of the United States Colored Troops and Camp William Penn.

  • Visit USCT encampments: 3rd and 6th USCT and PA. 53rd Infantry Re-enactors
  • Visit Camp William Penn Museum.
  • Living History demonstrations including ammunition making.
  • Hear archivist talk and demonstrate paper and book conservation.
  • See demonstrations of mid 1800’s building and carpentry techniques.
  • Civil War Medical and Surgical instrument ‘show and tell’.
  • Book signings, Lectures, Period Music, Films.
  • La Mott History display.
  • Civil War games and activities.
  • Visit graves of CWP soldiers at Philadelphia National Cemetery.
  • Local history organizations with tabletop displays and information.

Closing ceremony: 3:45 at Flagpole (corner Sycamore and Willow)

Camp William Penn, located in what is now modern day La Mott, was the first and largest Federal training site for colored soldiers during the Civil War.

Note: Volunteers needed for help in all aspects of this event; some starting now and some the day of the event. Ideas and suggestions are also welcome. If you are able to help or participate, please use contact information below.

Citizens for the Restoration of Historical La Mott
1618 Willow Avenue, La Mott, PA 19027
Email: pt@usct.org
Phone: (215) 885-2258

Memorial Day Ceremony at Philadelphia National Cemetery

Announcements, Events

When: Monday, May 27, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Where: Philadelphia National Cemetery, 6909 Limekiln Pike, Philadelphia, PA 19138

Immediately following the Memorial Day ceremony, there will be an unveiling of Private Warrick’s newly installed headstone. Private Warrick served with the 127th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, mustered out of Camp William Penn. His headstone was incorrectly engraved for nearly 160 years. We are acknowledging the new stone with honors.  

Afterward, we welcome you to join us at Camp William Penn Museum for light refreshments and a complimentary tour of the museum.

National Cemetery

Philadelphia National Cemetery (PNC) contains the remains of nearly 13,000 veterans from the Civil War and later conflicts, along with spouses and dependents.

One thousand US Colored Troops and Seamen are interred at PNC.  At least two hundred of these soldiers perished while training at Camp William Penn.

Camp William Penn Museum

1618 Willow Avenue, La Mott PA 19027

Here was Pennsylvania’s only training camp for African-American soldiers and the largest of 18 in the nation during the Civil War. Comprising over 10,000 men, 11 regiments of US colored troops were trained here; the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 32nd, 41st, 43rd, 45th, and 127th. The first recruits arrived on June 26, 1863. Many were to fight in Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and elsewhere. The camp closed on August 14, 1865.

Visit www.usct.org to learn more about Camp William Penn and to search USCT listings.
Phone: 215-885-2258 or Email: pt@usct.org.

February 2024 Black History Lecture: “‘The Families’ Civil War”

Announcements

Assistant Professor of African American History in the Department of History at Furman University will talk about his book, ‘The Families’ Civil War: Black Soldiers and the Fight for Racial Justice,’ which received rave reviews in the LA Review of Books and the Civil War Book Review. It was the 2023 Nautilus Book Award, Silver Winner. It also received an honorable mention, in the Civil War Monitor, for the best Civil War book of 2022. He has also started preliminary work for a new monograph that will examine all Pennsylvania born soldiers who trained at Camp William Penn. He’s also been interviewed by CNN, History Channel, NPR, Defense One, Smithsonian Magazine, Curiosity Streams, the Washington Post, and New York Times. He also serves on the advisory board for Ford’s Theater.

Speaking about “The Families’ Civil War”

His talk focused on the intersectionality of race, gender, and class in the military from 1850 through the 1920s. Counter to the national narrative which championed the patriotic manhood of soldiering from the Civil War through the 1920s, his research reveals that African American veterans and their families’ military experience were much more fraught. Economic and social instability introduced by military service resonated for years and even generations after soldiers left the battlefield. Also appearing: Ms. Martha Woods, a resident in Historic La Mott & Camp William Penn Museum board member, will tell of her journey to our community based on family history and her great-grandfather who enlisted at Camp William Penn leaving behind a wife and nine children.

Save the Date: February Black History Lecture

Announcements, Events

When: Sunday, February 25, 2024; 3:00 PM
Where: Zoom, pre-registration required
Who: Dr. Holly Pinheiro Jr.

Dr. Holly Pinheiro Jr. is an assistant professor of African American History at Furman University and will talk about how freeborn northern African Americans struggled to maintain families while fighting against racial discrimination. In his recent book, The Families’ Civil War, Dr. Pinheiro, provides a compelling account of the lives of USCT soldiers and their entire families. The intersections of gender, race, class, and region will be examined to illuminate experiences of northern USCT soldiers and their families.

This is a free Zoom event. Reservations are necessary. To reserve a virtual seat, send an email to pt@usct.org and you will be sent a link giving you access to the presentation.