Lincoln
Cordelia Ray, an African American poet would put her feelings into words with her poem Lincoln, at the dedication of the Emancipation Monument on April 14, 1876… Continue reading Lincoln
Tag: Archer Alexander
What Makes a Hero
Archer overheard the area men talking about how the work was going on the railroad bridge. Any day now, with the weight of the next Northern Missouri engine bearing down and over that steep gorge filled by Peruque Creek, their mission would be accomplished. They had been stealthily working at sawing the wooden timbers. And, they had stored arms and ammunition for when the great event happened! Any day now… Read more… Continue reading What Makes a Hero
Abolitionist William Greenleaf Eliot
On January 11, 1865 William G. Eliot was definitely an abolitionist and had addressed the issue of freedom not only for Archer Alexander but for every enslaved person in the State of Missouri. Continue reading Abolitionist William Greenleaf Eliot
March 30, 1863
On March 30, 1863, Eliot would address a letter to Archer’s owner Richard H. Pitman asking to purchase him, as he wanted to see Archer Alexander emancipated. In his book, The Story of Archer Alexander, Eliot would later write … Continue reading March 30, 1863
Getting it right
I share the hard stories. I love telling difficult stories. But lately its’ become harder to tell them. Continue reading Getting it right
The Untold Story
On April 14, 1876, a 70-year-old black man named Archer Alexander, would be immortalized when he was chosen to be the face that represented “slavery” on the Freedom Memorial in our Nation’s Capitol. Lincoln was the very man who had given him freedom… On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia will host an online evening event “Archer Alexander: The Monuments Unknown Hero” Continue reading The Untold Story
Encyclopedia Virginia
Archer Alexander’s story is important not only to the fabric of Virginia’s history, but it stretches across America. A man born enslaved in Virginia, who became a hero in Missouri’s Civil War conflict, was unknown in our Nation’s capital. There Archer Alexander rises before President Abraham Lincoln, his emancipator. The Emancipation Monument which was the gift of the formerly enslaved, was the only memorial to honor Lincoln in Washington, D.C. until 1922. The “unidentified man” now has a new opportunity for his story to be heard loud and clear with this Encyclopedia Virginia entry. Continue reading Encyclopedia Virginia
The Last Fugitive Slave
In this talk, I wanted to share Archey’s heroic act reporting the treason of his owner, and his Confederate neighbors to the Union Home Guards stationed at Peruque Creek bridge in Missouri. Continue reading The Last Fugitive Slave
Archer Alexander – Missouri’s last fugitive slave
The CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE of the District of Columbia will host speaker and public historian Dorris Keeven-Franke, of Saint Charles, Missouri at their September 28, 2021 Zoom Meeting. The free Zoom lecture begins at 8pm Eastern Time/7pm Central Time.The Lecture is free and open to the public. Continue reading Archer Alexander – Missouri’s last fugitive slave
The 13th Amendment
Congress passed the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865. It read “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”. Continue reading The 13th Amendment
Dorris Keeven Franke 