Name/Title
Veterans Posing with the American Flag in Front of Public School 24Description
This black-and-white photograph mounted on board captures a group of six older men including Lewis Latimer (at far left, notated as Number “5” in a handwritten caption) standing in front of an American flag outside a school building labeled "PUBLIC SCHOOL 24." Latimer was a member of the Flushing post of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union Army and Navy veterans, and he is pictured with other members presenting a flag to Flushing’s PS 24 in March 1924. The men are wearing a mix of military and civilian coats, suggesting they may be veterans or members of a Civil War or post-war military association. Their solemn expressions and formal stance indicate the importance of the occasion, possibly a commemoration or patriotic event. The background features a leafless tree and a wooden school building, suggesting that the event might have taken place in late fall or winter. The handwritten names beneath the image identify the individuals present, marking this as a valuable historical document for research on African American military service and community leadership during the post-Civil War and early 20th-century periods.Context
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many African American veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and other conflicts participated in commemorative events and veterans' organizations such as the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). These groups were crucial in advocating for Black veterans' rights, pensions, and historical recognition. The presence of the American flag reinforces themes of patriotism, civic duty, and the struggle for racial equality. The two versions of the image—one mounted on an aged, deteriorating card and another on newer paper—suggest that this photograph was preserved and possibly reprinted over time. This indicates its importance as a historical artifact and possibly a cherished memory for those depicted.Collection
The Lewis H. Latimer Papers (1870-1929, 1972) [QPL Subgroup], Latimer Family Papers (1870-1996 ) [QPL Full Collection]Inscription/Signature/Marks
Transcription
R. W. Carman [or Corman], John Wiggins, [illegible] Barker, H. C. [Dunbar?] (Chaplain) L. H. Latimer (Adj. [Adjutant]) [Lewis Howard Latimer, the inventor and Civil War veteran.] Truffalo [illegible], (Surgeon).
