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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-04 > 1208140351


From: "Ernest Everett Blevins" <>
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] African-American Camps
Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:32:31 -0400
References: <d5c.22f7c486.35336989@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <d5c.22f7c486.35336989@aol.com>


The History of the GAR in Georiga and South Carolina has a listing of
segregated departments here. I'll send it out later since I"m not looking
at it now.

History Detectives did a story a while back on a photo of a GAR post with a
black member which I think was either in the Lancaster area or New York
States. I was disapointed that the SUVCW was not metioned in the story for
their search. I geneally like the show when I see it but I do think they
tried to make a point about the greatness of this post becuase it was
intergrated and the South's weren't when I'm pretty positive it was probalby
an exception in the north and likely not the rule in the time period.

Ernie Blevins
List Administrator

On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 9:50 AM, <> wrote:

>
> Daily Local News November 15, 1934
> West Chester, Pennsylvania
> At a joint meeting of Colonel George F. Smith Camp, No. 103, Sons of
> Union
> Veterans of the Civil War and their Auxiliary, the annual installation of
> officers was held recently. For the Camp, the following officers were
> installed:
> Commander, Walter B. Burton; Secretary, J. Fred Burton; Treasurer, Edward
> C.
> Irons; Guide, Earl Wilson; Patriotic Instructor, Winfield Irons; Chaplin,
> John Stout; Color Bearer, Norman Thomas; Senior Vice Commander, Robert
> Jackson;
> Junior Vice Commander, Leonard Brown; Musician, Norman Thomas; Camp
> Council,
> John Stout, Winfield Irons and John Ricks; Inside Guard, William Glasco,
> Outside Guard, Marshall Martin.
> The above is a portion of an article which was given to me by Ernie Irons
> of
> West Chester. I first met Ernie when I participated in the BPOE Elks Flag
> Day
> Ceremony (mandatory of all Lodges) in my SVR uniform. Ernie was a command
> sergeant in somebody's service. When Ernie voices a command all active
> duty,
> retired, veterans and civilians respond.
> Ernie mentioned that he had been a member of Sons as a young man. Ernie
> is
> an African-American, whatever that means. I asked Ernie how many of the
> installed officers were Black. Ernie looked at me as if I had just gotten
> off the
> boat. He told me to look at the date of 1934. He said that is was an all
> Black
> Camp because there were no integrated social/service organizations at that
> time even in Pennsylvania. There is still a Black American Legion in West
> Chester. They do have white members, but they want to retain their
> Historically
> Black Charter. There is a Black VVW in a neighboring community for the
> same
> reason. However there is no Black BPOE. Since Black folks were not
> allowed to
> join the BPOE a number of African-American men organized the IBPOE, the
> Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, which has no color
> test. I think
> it was an improvement.
> If anyone knows of other all Black Camps please send me the information.
> I
> think that could make an interesting project and perhaps bring in some new
> members.
> John O'Neal, PCC, Bradbury Camp #149, Dept of Pennsylvania.
> as well as
> John A. O'Neal, Pomeranian American
> Other than slavery, nazism, fascism and George III, war has never solved
> any
> problems.
> _O'Neal and Others Family History Page_
> (http://hometown.aol.com/jaoarm/myhomepage/heritage.html)
>
>
>
> **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money &
> Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolcmp00300000002850)
> The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
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>
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--
Ernest Everett Blevins, MFA • Blevins Historical Research
110 Evergreen Way • Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
• 770-456-1876

Historic Preservation Consultant -- Historical and Architectural Research --
Genealogical (Family) Research -- Preservation Planning and Documentation --
House History

Member: American Planning Association, New England Historic Genealogical
Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons
of Union Veterans, and member of numerous other lineage and heritage
societies.


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