Buffalo Soldier Exhibit Debuts At MetroAtlanta Museum



April 19, 2005 -- The name Buffalo Soldiers is legendary and many myths and legends are conjured up at the mention of it. After the Civil War, Congress reorganized the peacetime regular army in the summer of 1866. It recognized the military merits of black soldiers by authorizing six regiments of black troops, two of cavalry and four of infantry. The calvary regiments were the Ninth United States Cavalry and the Tenth United States Cavalry. The Buffalo Soldiers are the famous men of the Tenth Calvary, given that moniker by the Cheyenne warriors, a Native American tribe that they were fighting against during the Indian War. Now the public will have an opportunity to see some authentic memorabalia of the Buffalo Soldiers at a new exhibit at the Coweta County African American Heritage Museum and Research Center. The exhibit will be on display now through July 1st.

Don North, President and Founder of the Grierson's Buffalo Soldiers of Georgia, decided to loan part of his collection to the museum when he heard about the African American Alliance, Inc. and its work through the museum. Colonel Benjamin Grierson was the first African American commander of the Tenth Calvary. North also asked the museum researchers to help him research a Newnan man who he says was a member of the Buffalo Soldiers, possibly between 1870 - 1880.

"I think it is important to support the museum as it continues to uncover the forgotten history of Coweta County. There is a Buffalo Soldier from Newnan who received some type of medal of honor. There were 18 medals of honor given out during the Indian War campaign. I believe he was one of them and we would like to find his family and recognize him in the exhibit."

North and his group present reenactments of the Buffalo Soldiers throughout the country and abroad. They dress in the full regalia and are often met with amazement from audiences who have never heard of the Buffalo Soldiers. From North's extensive collection of memorabalia and artifacts, the exhibit includes: An authentic Saddle from the 1904 regiment; Model of a Guide on (the flag used circa 1877); A hat (circa 1870's before they switched to the brown hat's used today); A pistol belt (circa 1865) and books about the Buffalo Soldiers which date back to 1930's.

Gloria Tenney, Acting Director of the Museum and President of the African American Alliance, Inc. is working with North in the search for the Newnan member of the 10th Calvary. "We are excited that Mr. North is loaning part of his Buffalo Soldier collection to the museum. This is an outstanding exhibit and we hope to uncover who the Buffalo Soldier from Newnan was," she said.

The public is invited to visit the Coweta County African American Museum and Research Center to see the Buffalo Soldiers exhibit and the other exhibits that celebrate Newnan's African American history. The museum is located at 92 Farmer Street. Admission is free, however, donations are welcomed. Operating hours are Mon - Fri, 10 - 3pm and by appointment on Saturdays. The museum is closed on Sundays. For more information you may contact the African American Alliance at 770-683-7055 or visit the website, www.africanamericanalliance.net.





Buffalo Soldier Exhibit Debuts At MetroAtlanta Museum