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Library » Subject Guides » African-American Soldiers


COLLECTIONS

African-American Soldiers

In World War I, more than a quarter of a million African-American soldiers served, mostly in support units. Many enlisted to show their loyalty and patriotism to the United States. For the first time, segregated African-American units were led by African-American officers.

African-American units that saw action acquitted themselves well, and soldiers received awards for valor. The entire 369th Infantry, the “Harlem Hellfighters,” were awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government.

The African Americans, like other soldiers, felt accomplishment for the victory celebrated at the Armistice, and expected to be treated as heroic as other soldiers when they arrived back in the United States. They were disappointed.

During World War II, more than 1 million African-American soldiers served, again in segregated units. Defeating Nazi Germany and fascism was only half their battle; the soldiers and their families were also fighting for equality in employment, housing, education, and the right to vote.

In June 1941, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, which banned discriminatory employment practices in the federal government, unions, and all companies that participated in war-related work.

Although still in segregated units, the media coverage of the Tuskegee airmen, the 92nd Infantry Division, the Red Ball Express, the 761st Tank Battalion, and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion showed that African-Americans could fight and support the fighting as any other unit.

On July 26, 1948, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the armed forces, a huge step toward equality.

(The Associated Negro Press interviews African-American soldiers in Europe. George C. Marshall Foundation photo)

The George C. Marshall Foundation library and archives staff organizes material by the original title, which sometimes contain pejorative terms that are no longer used. Searching the catalog using these original title terms may be the only way to locate items.

To find items that the Marshall Foundation has on African Americans in World War I and World War II, search “African American,” “African-American,” and the original title term “negro” in the library catalog: https://www.marshallfoundation.org/library/results/

Digitized items in the George C. Marshall Foundation archives on African Americans in World War I and World War II:

2-250 To Robert R. McCormick, August 28, 1940
2-287 Editorial Note on African Americans and the Army
2-397 Memorandum for General Ulio, March 20, 1941
2-465 To Frederick D. Patterson, May 24, 1941
2-475 Memorandum for General Richardson, June 4, 1941
2-476 Memorandum for Colonel Wilson, G-4, June 4, 1941
3-490 To William H. Hastie, January 31, 1943
4-131 To Frederick D. Patterson, October 12, 1943
4-301 Editorial Note on African-American Troops
4-302 To Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon, March 18, 1944
40.09.30 Mr. Husting; Colored Pilots
40.09.30 Mr. Newsum; Colored Pilots
41.03.03 Mr. Patterson; Training Equipment
41.06.14 Mr. Patterson; Military Science Instructors
41.07.22 Telegram; 99th Pursuit Squadron Inauguration
41.08.18 Major General John P. Smith; Recreation Area
41.08.31 The Negro in the American Army
41.09.02 Dr. Patterson; WPA Recreation Area
41.10.11 Dr. Patterson; Recreation Area
41.10.22 Mr. Patterson; U.S.O. Building
41.11.05 Mr. Lawrence; Discrimination
41.12.08 Address to the Conference of Negro Newspaper Editors
42.03.17 Patterson; General Benjamin Davis visit
42.03.23 General Marshall; Visit of General Davis
42.05.13 Secretary of War Stimson; Distribution of Colored Troops
42.08.24 Dr. Patterson; Training Policy
43.01.30 General Marshall; Concern for Equitable Treatment
43.01.31 Judge Hastie; Exceedingly Difficult Problem
43.10.08 General Marshall; Tuskegee Fundraising
43.10.18 General Marshall; Generous Contribution
44.03.18 General Harmon; 93rd Division In Action
44.10.05 General Marshall; Power Plant
44.10.17 Dr. Patterson; Power Plant
45.04.05 General Marshall; Expanding ROTC
45.08.24 General Marshall; Post War Role
45.08.25 Mr. McCloy; Integration of Army Units
45.09.14 General Marshall; Surplus
45.09.29 Telegram; Location of Flying Officers
45.10.20 General Marshall; Regarding Telegram
49.07.01 General Marshall; Brief Conference
49.11.29 United Negro College Fund
5-220 Editorial Note on Racial Integration of Infantry Combat Units
5-221 Memorandum for Mr. McCloy, August 25, 1945
5-252 To Frederick D. Patterson, October 16, 1945
A-train : memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman / Charles W. Dryden ; with a foreword by Benjamin O. Davis, Jr
Black knights : the story of the Tuskegee airmen / by Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly ; foreword by Louis R. Purnell
GCM00199 General Marshall riding in a jeep with General Almond to a forward observation post in the 92nd Division area.
GCM01998 General Marshall watches a 155mm howitzer fire a mission.
GCM02449A Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis touring Army installations in Europe, addresses men of a Quartermaster Truck Company.
GCM02842A General Marshall inspecting a 92nd Division kitchen facility.
GCM02842B General Marshall reviewing the 92nd Division band.
GCM02844 General Marshall observing a demonstration by the 365th Infantry Regiment.
GCM02845 General Marshall with General Almond inspecting the 365th Infantry Regiment.
Keep us flying buy war bonds.
Reel 015 Item 548 Allocation of Negro Units
Reel 015 Item 548 Armored Force School/758th Tank Battalion
Reel 015 Item 548 Distribution of Negro Personnel
Reel 015 Item 548 Measures Taken Based on Recommendations by Judge W. H. Hastie
Reel 015 Item 548 Negro Army Personnel
Reel 015 Item 548 Negro Army Personnel
Reel 015 Item 548 Negro Enlisted Personnel – Authorized Strength
Reel 015 Item 548 Volunteer Division Open to All Races
Reel 015 Item 548 Volunteer Division Open to All Races
Reel 015 Item 548 Volunteer Mixed Race Division
Reel 115 Item 2626 Negroes in the National Defense Program
Reel 352 Item 5250 17th Armored Infantry Battalion
Reel 352 Item 5250 17th Armored Infantry Battalion
Reel 352 Item 5250 Negro Troops in Combat
SC127992 Kitchen Bakersfield Flying School
Segregated soldiers : military training at historically Black colleges in the Jim Crow South
Tuskegee’s heroes : featuring the aviation art of Roy LaGrone / Charlie & Ann Cooper

Collection Formats:

War Department Chiefs and Executives, October 19,
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Documents


Organization Chart Offices of the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff & Secretary, General Staff, September 15,
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Documents


Organization Chart Offices of the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff & Secretariat, General Staff, March 1,
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Documents


Statistics Branch War Department General Staff organization chart
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Documents


Secretariat, War Department General Staff, June 7,
Call Number: GCM 7890 Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection, George C. Marshall Photographs

Photographs


Handshake after award from Gen. George C. Marshall, 1945
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Photographs


Legion of Merit awarded by Gen. George C. Marshall, 1945
Collection: F. Gorham Brigham Collection

Photographs

Legion of Merit awarded by Gen. George C. Marshall


Newspaper clipping of Pershing attending Brown-Marshall Wedding, October 12,
Collection: George Catlett Marshall and Katherine Tupper Marshall Collection

Notice of Marshall-Brown wedding


Invitation list to wedding of Katherine T. Brown and Lt. Col. George C. Marshall, 1930
Collection: George Catlett Marshall and Katherine Tupper Marshall Collection

Documents

Inivtation list to the wedding of Katherine T. Brown and Lt. Col. George C. Marshall


Marshall Day at Virginia Military Institute, May 15,
Author: Virginia Military Institute
Collection: George C. Marshall Collection

Documents

Marshall Day Virginia Military Institute


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