Elliott about the history of africanamericans in dmong the 19th century and a sea of artifacts from the house collection. The story of how africanamericans come to congress in the 19th century is not one a lot of people are familiar with. We actually have 22 africanamericans serve between 1870 and 1901. 20 in the house. 2 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 the civil war there were a group of radicals in congress, radicals, because they believed in the equality of africanamericans, and wanted to create a society in the south after the war that was a multiracial society. These were radicals in the house, like thaddeus stephens, who was chairman of the ways and Means Committee and a very powerful leader. Also people like henry winter davis. Washburn. In the Senate People like Charles Sumner and Benjamin Wade and they really drove the agenda and pushed the Lincoln Administration to not only
Africanamerican representation in the 20th century and have a lot of artifacts from the house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last africanamerican sort of to be eleshgted in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of north carkarcar and a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. Oscar depriest from illinois. We have a couple of really rare artifacts from Oscar Depriest from the 1920s and 30s. But before i launch into them, because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about Oscar Depriest and how he got into congress. So theres a long period. Almost three decades after George Henry White leaves congress where theres no africanamericans who serve in either the house or the senate. And that has everything to do with the jim crow laws that go on the books in the south, and the way that that changes over time during those decades, theres a critical thing going on in the south where africanamericans begin to l
This was the first of a twopart program. You can view this and all other american artifact programs on our website, cspan. Org history. Each week, American History tv is american artifact visits museums and historic places. Next we take you inside the house wing of the u. S. Capitol to learn about the history of women in congress. In the second of a twopart program, we continue the story into the 1940s with republican congresswoman clare booth luce. I am sarah elliott. I am the curator for the house of representatives. I take care of a lot of the artifacts, artwork, objects that document the houses rich heritage. I am the historian at the house. My job is to collect biographical information on members, to gather data and historic lists and to conduct oral histories. We answer reference questions in our office that come from on the hill and off the hill. We try to tell the story of the house. Which is this very big, very Old Institution in a way in which people can connect with it at a
Available as a podcast. Find it where you listen to podcasts. Next on American History tvs american artifacts, we visit the Canon House Office building to see artifacts that tell the story of africanamericans in congress in the 20th century. Im sarah elliott, the curator at the house of representatives. And im matt rauz nwasniewsk. We want to talk about africanamerican representation in the 20th century, and we have a lot of artifacts from the house collection that have to do with that and a lot of history to cover. And the last africanamerican sort of to be elected in the 19th century leaves in 1901, george white of north carolina, and then its a long time before another africanamerican comes into the house. Thats is Oscar Depriest from illinois. We have a couple really rare artifacts from Oscar Depriest from the 1920s and 30s, but before i launch into them because i love them so much, matt, tell us a little bit about oscar and how he got into congress. So theres a long period, almost
From the Suffrage Movement to women attaining full political rights. A nationalive in womens suffrage organization. She helped women get the right to vote, not only in montana but a couple of states west of the mississippi. In 1916. She is elected to mop one of montanas to at large districts. She is a pacifist. Sworn into the house on april 2, 1917. The house has come into special session, extraordinary session because the president delivers a message to congress, asking for a declaration of war against germany as the u. S. Entry into world war i. , rankint vote is held is one of a group of about 50 members who vote against u. S. Intervention in world war i. She served a term in the house. It was on the womens suffrage community. Committee. She was on the public lands committee. That was an important assignment for a woman from montana with so much of the land being held by the federal government. It was an important position. She served only a term in the house and she tries to run fo