An Exhibit by National Archives, Northeast Region Pittsfield and The Lenox Library
The Lenox Library, in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration-Northeast Region in Pittsfield will be opening an exhibit of records from the Massachusetts 54th on Wednesday, January 19 in the Welles Gallery at The Lenox Library. The exhibit runs through February 26, 2010.
“The 54th Civil War Regiment: With Much at Stake” examines the recruitment, battles, and aftermath of the 54th, the African-American infantry regiment whose bravery earned the respect of the nation. Created at the urging of Frederick Douglass and other Massachusetts abolitionists, the regiment mustered in Boston and proceeded to the ill-fated Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863. This troop is now often called the “Glory Regiment” after the 1989 Academy Award-winning film, Glory.
There is a Lenox connection to the 54th, in that its regiment commander, Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, married Annie Haggerty within a month of leading his regiment into war.
The National Archives facility in Pittsfield holds three microfilm publications containing many of the records of the MA 54th including service and administrative records, that history and genealogy buffs will find interesting. Some of these films will also be available for viewing at The Lenox Library during the exhibit period. Interested persons can also use all the MA 54th microfilm at the National Archives facility on Conte Drive during our normal business hours (see www.archives.gov/northeast/pittsfield for complete hours).
There will be a reception, sponsored by the Friends of NARA, for the exhibit on Friday, January 21st at The Lenox Library, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, call the National Archives at 413-236-3604 or The Lenox Library at 413-637-0197. Light refreshments will be served.