BUFFALO SOLDIERS DAY!
By Miriam Kleiman, Public Affairs
#OTD in 1866, Congress created six army regiments of all-Black soldiers, eventually known as "Buffalo Soldiers." We honor their legacy and were surprised to recently find in our holdings previously-unknown images of Buffalo Soldiers at West Point, including of these men playing football! Washington Post reporter Mike Ruane broke the story, fittingly, during Black History Month 2021, and detailed the discovery by preservation specialist Richard Schneider. Details below.
UPDATE: There's an incredible update to this story!
Intrigued by this news, football historian Timothy P. Brown wanted to learn more. He researched and shared his findings in his Friendly Fields of Strife blog post: The Mystery of the West Point Cavalry Detachment Football Team. After seeing the trophy photo in an online collectors' forum, Brown reached out to the collector, Ron Pomfrey. The football enthusiasts then shared this amazing story with the press! See: Hanover collector scores priceless piece of West Point football history. Brown continues to learn more about these men and this incredible unknown history. Stay tuned!
Trophy awarded to the Cavalry Detachment, 1929. From 6News Richmond story.
Washington Post feature:
West Point football was all-White until 1966. So why does this 1920s photo show an all-Black squad? National Archives scans reveal rare images of a Black team at the then-segregated military academy.