Black people have, without a doubt, been instrumental in all facets of the foundational structure of this country. This involvement, of course, extends to military service.
“People have been excited to participate and be seen as patriots. Black folks, a lot of times, saw that as part of their responsibility in being good citizens,” said Wilma Moore, senior archivist with the Indiana Historical Society. “All military conflicts since the Revolutionary War … Blacks have been there.”
Here in Indiana, people like Sgt. Irven Armstong, who passed away in 1996, were in that number. He fought during WWI and not only impacted the nation with his service, but also left impressions on several young students.
Armstrong, a native of Westfield, Indiana, worked as a schoolteacher in his hometown before graduating from Indiana University in 1915. After college, he moved to Indianapolis, where he taught at IPS #17, a junior high school that was located near where Crispus Attucks High School would stand years later. He taught history at Attucks after the war and retired in 1959 as the head of the history department. He was also a decorated member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
When Armstrong headed off to Europe to fight, he was not alone, as his four brothers Isaac, Ezekial “Zeek,” Charles and Lindzey accompanied him, and a group of school #17 students sent him letters, as well.
“These letters are unique,” said Moore. “Within the letters, there are lots of different subjects, but many of them say the same thing — thanks so much for making the world safe for democracy. They also share what’s happening on the home front.”
One such letter, penned by a young Ms. Beatrice Williams, recounts the activities of local civilians in liberty bond drives and other things. “We are bringing peach seeds to school to be used in the making of carbon for gas masks … a Liberty Loan drive began here Oct. 28, and from the way the papers read, the colored people did their bit,” she noted.
Other students, like Velma Pritchett, talk about the Spanish Influenza epidemic of 1918. “It is one of my favorite letters,” Moore shared. “She says some things that sound like they are straight out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. She says, ‘I really didn’t want to stay at home during this time … but I thought it best I stay home instead of going to school while the flu is raging,’ and I just thought that was interesting the way she put that.”
Earlier this month, young actors delivered a program titled “Sincerely, Sgt. Armstrong,” during which these letters were brought to life, including two that have been a part of an ongoing WWI museum exhibit “The Great War through Hoosier Eyes.” The exhibit is located in the Rosemary McKee Lanham Gallery and includes numerous letters, diaries and postcards written by Hoosiers. It will remain open until Saturday, July 8.
Visitors interested in viewing other WWI materials are encouraged to visit the Historical Society’s William H. Smith Memorial Library, which is free and open to the public from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information on Indiana Historical Society events and exhibits, visit indianahistory.org.
