Upcoming events on September 24th
Originally posted on Archer Alexander's Untold story:
Imagine yourself trapped between two hostile forces during the Civil War in Missouri. Caught in this… Continue reading Upcoming events on September 24th
Tag: Archer Alexander
Archer Alexander
What would you do? Imagine yourself enslaved in a state that is caught between two hostile forces. On a cold winter’s night in Missouri in January 1863, Archer Alexander overheard his enslaver Richard Pitman holding a secret meeting in the back room of the local Postmaster and storeowner James Naylor, in his mercantile on the Boone’s Lick Road in St. Charles County. Area slave owners were plotting the destruction of a vital rail link for the Union Army at the Peruque Creek Bridge, about five miles away. Without a word to his wife Louisa, who was enslaved by Naylor, he took off in the dark for the Union troop’s guardhouse, to warn them of the impending danger and what he knew. Continue reading Archer Alexander
The Importance of an Open Mind
Keeping an open mind is a valuable resource tool when researching our family history. Continue reading The Importance of an Open Mind
News
Missouri Historical Society recently shared the story of Archer Alexander American Hero on their History Happens Here blog… Continue reading News
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
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
Dorris Keeven Franke 