African American Military History Photograph of Black Soldier with US Army Camp Unit in the American West Late 19th Century

Buffalo Soldier

Photograph

African American soldier photographed among members of a United States Army camp unit in the American West during the late nineteenth century, providing visual documentation of Black participation within the military environment during the era of segregated service. African American soldiers served in the United States Army throughout the nineteenth century, most prominently in units known as the Buffalo Soldiers, which were formally organized after the Civil War. While Black soldiers were typically assigned to segregated regiments, images occasionally record their presence in mixed military environments such as camps, labor details, or logistical units. The photograph captures a group of soldiers gathered in a temporary camp setting and includes a seated Black soldier identified by a contemporary handwritten note on the verso reading “Notice ‘Black Soldier.’”

Albumen sepia tone photograph mounted on photographer’s board showing a group of American soldiers posed within a military encampment. Photograph measuring approximately 8.5 x 10 inches mounted on a photographer’s board measuring approximately 10.75 x 10 inches. The men are dressed in clothing typical of western military and frontier settings of the late nineteenth century, including dark buttoned shirts, trousers supported by suspenders, and boots. The African American soldier appears seated among the group with a cigarette in his mouth. The soldiers are gathered in a clearing surrounded by trees where rows of tents are arranged on raised wooden platforms, suggesting an organized encampment. Cooking equipment, stacked blankets, plates, and tankards are visible, indicating a communal meal or informal gathering. One soldier holds what appears to be a long rifle with a visible barrel and wooden stock. Several soldiers sit or recline on the ground in the foreground while others stand behind them, creating the appearance of an informal group portrait taken during daily camp life rather than a formal military arrangement. Handwritten note on the verso reads “Notice ‘Black Soldier.’” Top right corner of the board cracked with tape repairs on the verso; slight water staining at the top left corner and damp staining at the lower left corner with partial cracking at the lower right corner. Image itself remains clear and largely unaffected. Overall condition good. The photograph preserves a visual record of African American presence within the late nineteenth century U.S. Army camp environment during a period when the armed forces remained formally segregated.

Item #18739

Price: $1,200.00