Tvs american artifacts explore the history of the United States threw objects, up next we visit capitol hill to talk to house historian, matthew wasilewski. And house curative far elliott, about the history of African Americans in congress in the 19th century. And a selection of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how African Americans come to congress a 19 century, is not one that a lot of people are familiar with. We actually had 22 African Americans sir between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house, to in the senate. Largely a house story. And it has to do with the role of congress, during the civil war. And in the decade after during a civil war, there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals because they believed in the equality of African Americans and wanted to create a society that was a multi racial society. These were radicals in the house like stevens, it was chairman of the means committee, and a very powerful leader. Also people like hadnt rewinter davis, ally awash burn, in the Senate People like Charles Sumner and benjamin wade. And they really drove the agenda and push the Lincoln Administration to, not only prosecute more and more vigorously, but also to have a reconstruction after the war, that was one that was not so lenient towards Southern States. That will ensure that Political Rights were extended to African Americans. The war ends in 1865, how do you get from 1865 to the first African American members of congress, because it does not happen right that day . It does not happen right away, but the role of the radicals, if anything, becomes more assertive after the end of the war. After lincolns assassinated, president johnson takes over and has a even more lenient view than lincoln, about how the Southern States are going to be readmitted. And he has pushed constantly by the radical republicans. In a very short period of time, roughly four or five years, they pass series of constitutional amendments. And also laws that bring about the equality of African Americans in the south. That starts in early 1865, with the passage of the 13th amendment. And that is ratified later that year, banning slavery outline slavery once and for all in the u. S. But then followed up by some major legislation, like the Civil Rights Act of 18 set which extended Citizenship Rights to the friedman. And then, subsequently, constitutional amendments and the 14th amendment with guaranteed Citizenship Rights. The 15th amendment, which guaranteed voting rights. And then also, a series of reconstruction acts that divided the south in the military districts, and gave power to Union Generals to run those districts politically, essentially. To set up elections, and to ensure that African Americans could come to the polls, under the new laws and maintenance that had been passed. In the house collection, we have a number of images, prince mostly from news weeklies, for example this is one right here from 1866. This scene outside the galleries at the passage of that Civil Rights Act and and it is a great jubilation, and we have someone for the passage of those amendments that you are talking about. And other Civil Rights Acts and all of them people seem really excited and delighted at this level of progress so, so it certainly is being portrayed in the public eye as something that is wonderful and great in terrific. And so is it sort of a lag of a few years . From those things being passed to then states being able to elect African American members . So it goes into place in the Southern States is, republican reconstruction governments. Its that point by the late 18 sixties, that you begin to see a number of African Americans hold office. And move up into positions of local authority. Either on town councils, or in the state legislatures, and they gain a political role, a political voice. And a number of the African Americans who served in this time period, that is how they kind of come up through the ranks very quickly. And move up into positions where they can then be elected to congress. So who is the first African American in the house . The first African American to speak on the floor in the house of representatives, while the house is in session is actually a man who was elected but never seated. John willis men are, filled louisiana, was elected in 1868. And his election was contested and that is a story that kind of runs throughout the 19th century for so many of these African American members who are elected to congress. Their election, it was challenged. And a number of them had that experience, maynard was in february of 1869 allowed to speak on the house for to defend himself and is contested election case. The house chose not to seat him or in his opponent. And he never was seated, but he won the election, the house just exercise its right not to see them. The first African American who is elected to the house, and seated in the house is joseph rainy of South Carolina. In december of 1870. Following him are another 19 African American members throughout the course of the 19th century. Rainy wasnt actually the First American and congress, that distinction went to highland rebels of mississippi, who was elected by the state legislature as senators were back in the 19th century. He came into congress in early 1870, but when you think about that revolution that occurs within a matter of less than a decade, rainy had been born into slavery. During the civil war he had been conscripted into the Confederate Army to dig trenches around charleston, where he was from. He escaped to bermuda, during the war. He comes back after the war, he gains a political experience and political role locally, and within a decade he is holding the seat of a former confederate slave holder. And revel story is the same. He was born as a freed man, he never was a slave. But he too comes into the senate and occupies a seat that had been held by a slave holder, less than a decade before. And when you think about the great paradox is the American History, that is one of them. That they come to the capital, and they represent African American constituencies, and they are doing it after those seats had been given up during secession by slaveowners. Thats amazing. Ive read a little bit about reconstruction, and its interesting this sort of a very small brotherhood of men who are serving right in those early 18 seventies. We actually have a print, it has five of them. Right here and they include hiring rebels, if we were just talking about and joseph rainy right here. As is three other members of congress to in the house and one in the senate that is the complete African American representation of the senate up until well into the 20th century and you can see they are being presented in this print which has taken from a book from a former speaker of the house about his time in congress. It is very much in the same vein as every other member member of congress and statesman and early photographs from brady studio and if you were to see the whole thing you would see that they look like they a sitting in the same chair in front of the same curtain background that matt meet Matthew Brady uses for every congressman you cannot saying swing a cat without finding a 19th century photograph so it is very interesting to me they see that changes reconstruction period there really is that sense that these people are members of congress. There is this sort of civil war it seems like it is a huge pivot that is happened as shown by this kind of representation. For African Americans and historians they talk about the reconstruction period, it really is the second american revolution. In which Political Rights were extended to this group that had been excluded for so long. And, rainy and rebels their two careers in the house and senate respectively, really embodied the experiences of the African Americans who served in this time period. Their service was to a great degree, largely symbolic service. Rebels only serves a very short time in the senate, and he later goes on one speaking circuit around the country, and hes introduced everywhere in the 15th amendment in flesh and blood. And the embodiment of African American voting rights. And, rainy too was a symbol for African Americans. These were men who, not only represented their small districts or their states. And the constituents there. But they represented African Americans nationally. And they were a source of pride. And that is reflected in the material culture. Rainy serves for almost eight years in the house, he is the longest serving African American during the reconstruction period of 19 century. And he establishes a couple of first, hes the first African American to preside over the house while it is in session. That happens in 1874. And, his experience though is typical of a lot of these other individuals who come to the house, in a relatively small numbers. The high point in terms of the number of African Americans is the 43rd congress, mid 18 seventies. There is only six or seven African Americans in congress at that point. So, they are really too small of a group to drive any kind of legislative agenda. And, where they do contribute to legislation, is to come out and speak on behalf of their constituents and their Political Rights and the abuses against those Political Rights in the reconstruction era of the south. So they tend to give very eloquent speeches about some of the major bills, 1875 Civil Rights Act. Which again piece of legislation that many people think about today when people think Civil Rights Act. Its a Civil Rights Act of 1964. And with that bill in 1875 would have done, is essentially the same thing of the 1964 bill did. It would have granted equality and accommodations, and public travel. And also in schools. And a lot of these African Americans, from the south, from South Carolina, mississippi, alabama. They got up and spoke on behalf of this bill, particularly the education provision. Which would have provided an equal playing field, and that provision, sadly, is stripped out of the bill at the very end of the congress. This was a bill that had been championed by Charles Sumner, the senator from massachusetts. And supported by benjamin butler, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the house. And lot of these men gave a very moving testimonials on the house floor about that legislation. Well, i have a question about another object we have in the collection because, rebels and rainy as the first often are the ones that i think about. But there are these other 19 votes, and one of them is Robert Browne elliott. Right here, this is from Frank Leslies illustrated newspaper. We are a lot of the 19th century stuff that we have, in the house collection, that tells us about what is going on in the house and what public is reading about it. What they are seeing. This is one, one of the rare ones in which there is an African American member that is given some sort of a little portrait, right there on the pages. Right next to any number of things that is going on. This is the news of the day. Tell me a little bit about elliott . Elliott is one of the interesting members, he is from South Carolina, and the majority of African American members during the 19th century come from South Carolina. There are seven members, not all from that state. Largely because its a largely African American population, in the district majority African American. So there is support for a black candidate. Elliott is a wonderful hes one of these people who invented himself as he went along. You get the sense that he is a true character, but he had a great classical education. He came up after reconstruction, he worked on a newspaper. He had some journalism background. And then he moves up into the state assembly. In South Carolina. And he comes to the house, for two terms in the early 18 seventies. And he is one of the men that comes on to the floor and talks about the importance of passing the 1875 civil rights bill. And gives some speeches that are picked up in the northern press. And they just swoon over him, one of the speeches he actually hits a Counter Point debate with alexander stevens, the former confederate Vice President who is by that point, has come back to the house. And, elliott just blows him out of the water. He is so respected and he is such an ally of senator charles that when sumner passes, shortly before his bill moves through the house and senate, elliott goes and delivers our eulogy at a final hall in boston. Which also is widely picked up in the northern press. He leaves the house actually, mid congress, and his second term and he goes back to South Carolina because he cares so much about state politics and hes watching the way things are trending towards the end of reconstruction and seeing a lot of abuses against black political participation voting rights. And he becomes a speaker of South Carolina state assembly, for a brief period and later goes on to serve as a very tail end reconstruction as a attorney general for South Carolina afterwards, though, its his story typifies so many of these members. Once reconstruction ends, two youve got a guy whos a great speaker, has a law background, sets up a law practice, but he gets almost no business. And he is forced to move out of state. And eventually, in the mid 18 eighties, he dies in poverty. And that is sadly the history of so many of these 19th century individuals, who leave congress with the onset of jim crow their careers just dry up. And that speaks to the larger, kind of political ramifications. At the end of the reconstruction, and what that meant for black political participation. I wanted to point i knew something that i find really interesting, as a curator and not as a historian. Is that the way that works, no a gym crow ends up being promulgated in the press, so you get no business because of racism, and because of jim crow. And also its sort of reinforced in the popular press. But as were moving to the jim crow period, the way the public sees African American presented to them really changes and moves much towards a caricature that we are familiar with from the very beginning of the 20th century. So this is the 18 eighties, by 1889, indians also shows some whats going on in the capital an interesting period instead of a picture of the civil war veterans, and women, and African American children and adults celebrating outside as citizens who are excited about a new venture, and about the passing of the civil rights bill. Here, we are seeing lots of Different Things going on. And the very style of it is become more like a cartoon. In particular i want to draw your attention to this circular area, here, in which they are showing African Americans in the visitors gallery. Its called a gentlemans gallery. And thats is a name of the gallery of the house at the time, but its used almost dripping with sarcasm, because it is showing almost entirely African Americans in there. And in the accompanying essay about it, it points out what it wants to point out about this image that its showing African Americans who are in the gallery, but not engaged in the process. Cohen interest in whats going on in the floor. Its showing them is reading or sleeping, or using it simply as a place to hang out. And thats what this says as well. And this is a really enormous shift, in the National News coverage of African American civic life. And it goes pretty quickly, this is 20 years difference from seeing, this which has been all over the papers at the time, the engine 80 moves entirely towards caricatures of African American participation in the world of public affairs. So the turning point happens at the end of reconstruction, right . The turning point for this story, really happens with the end of reconstruction. Formal reconstruction with the union of military forces occupying the south, and they kept the reconstruction governments in place. Thats rolled back in 1877 as part of the disputed election of 1876, between two candidates. And that election gets thrown to congress to the side, and what happens is to house senator controlled by different Political Parties cant come to an agreement as to how deciding it. So we created a special Electoral Commission composed of five senators, five representatives, and five Supreme Court justices. Hand in the results that come back, there were three Southern States that had disputed returns. So it shows up is two different groups, one for hayes, one for the other. The commission comes back and finds in favor of hayes, forwarding him. But as part of the political negotiation thats drop, to make him president the Southern States managed, democrats managed to push republicans to end the reconstruction, formally. And that happens in 1877, and once that happens you see over, really a decade, i didnt and a half. Its a process where African Americans are gradually excluded from the political process in the south. Its a combination of state laws that go on the books, and local law have go on the books, such as poll taxes. But by the 1890s, both through law and custom in the south, African Americans largely are no longer part of the political process. In that plays out in congress, in that post 1877 period. Because you see the numbers really drop off by the 18 eighties. In the 18 eighties and 18 nineties, we only have five African Americans who are serving in congress, and various points. And usually its one or two during any given congress. Still some prominent individuals, this gentleman from virginia, who was a very prominent African American, even before the civil war. He actually had been one of the first blacks in the country elected to political office, in a town council in ohio. So he had a national reputation. And after the war he serves as a minute a minister. And then in the 1880s he is elected to virginia seat, and comes into the house. But here is another African American who faced contested elections. And by the time he is seated he only gets about seven or eight months term. So his ability to legislate is curtailed and thats really the story of a lot of these men who hide road blocks thrown up. Everything from texas to affecting the constituents, to violence in the polls. Now, the union army federal presence in the south had been rolled back. The very last individual concern in that period is for north carolina. Representative of the postal north carolina. He had elected African Americans before. He serves for two terms in the late 18 nineties, he is the last African American to serve really for three decades. And he very forcefully pushed for two things while he was a member. One was antilynching legislation. Which no grunt had really championed before, and he pushes for that and goes nowhere in the Judiciary Committee, and never really is debated. But hes out there talking about that on the floor. And the other thing that he wanted was to, because so many blacks were denied or Political Rights in the south, he wanted to reduce dirt representation in Southern States in Congress Based on how many people were being disenfranchised in southern districts. And so, these are two issues that kind of corporate for the next couple of decades in the house, but there is no African Americans who were there to champion. It in 1901, white leaves congress. He faced a very tough reelections, a lot of violence, a lot of fraud. And he leaves the house. When he does he gives a speech in february of 1901, which is tremendously moving, because he knows hes the last African American man to be in congress for a while. And at the end of the speech she says but you know, phoenix like some day, the African American will rise again in congress and come back. That takes three decades. I want to show you what i think is really sort of like that long tried period that happens after white leaves. One of the saddest parts of the artifacts we have. In fact this is one of the size artifacts that we have an escalation. Pretty recent acquisition of ours, we havent really seen one of these. This is a 1907 print that was made of all, its called colored men who have served in the congress of the United States. I it is really a testament to the persistence of hope in the African American engagement for participating in public life. Its set in 19 oh, silencer george white has not be gone for six years, and its not two decades until another African American returns to congress. And this was don sort of as a memento, in fact, the way its done it is a very popular method of showing a lot of things on the page, its almost done as if its a scrapbook or a photo op. Some of the images have tilted a little bit, as if they had been artfully placed in a scrapbook. And it really is a scrapbook its a book of memories, of little tiny disembodied pieces of memories. And in some ways that is what this is, its a memory of the past and i promise to the future the man who printed this had run several african major newspapers, he had been, he had had an appointment to a position with the Government Training offices. And by 1907 will have that had vanished, all of the positions open by African Americans in the government that he had been part of had gone away. The newspapers had collapse. He had a lot of connections with other folks. In those things had also evaporated. And this is one of the last things that we know that he did, and that is really attempting to put a marker down. This wont be forgotten, and it wont come back as george white said. In the center weve got hire from rebels and does other men two African Americans who served in the senate. And they are surrounded by a number of African Americans who served in the house. The first African American in the house is right there. And it takes it all the way around through all of them, who were there. I find this so poignant in that when this was printed no one knew how long would it be. Did you think 20 years was gonna be a very long time . Did they think that was just going to be a moment . But what did happen to the sprint eventually, as you can see, it looks terribly damaged like its had a hard life. And indeed, it has. It was at some point, someone took this and pasted it on probably a wall, its haste and underneath that is wallpaper. And underneath the print is wallpaper and on top is wallpaper. So pointed ottomans wall in sort of recognition of those things that had happened. It was printed in d. C. , we were able to weigh acquired in the sea, and it may never have left the nations capital. Unlike black representation of the time, when it was pointed. Next on American History tv american artifacts. We visit the Office Building to see artifacts that tell the story of African Americans in congress, in the 20th century. I am far elliott