History Month at Chesnutt Library
posted by Troy Hobbs III | November 21, 2023 | In NewsFayetteville State University’s Chesnutt Library is presenting Military History Month through the month of November. FSU’s Archives Department is hosting it. The display’s main purpose is to honor our veterans who have served the United States and directly impacted Fayetteville. The library is hosting three exhibits to honor Military History Month.
The first exhibit, which is on the first floor, is the Lafayette exhibit. Fayetteville is the namesake of Marquis de Lafayette. He was from France and fought on the colonies’ side during the American Revolution. Afterward, he was crucial in making liberty a central concept for America. However, he felt conflicted about America’s creation due to colonial slavery, understanding that what he did was hypocritical. Further information on his life can be found right in front of the stairwell, courtesy of the Lafayette Society
On the library’s fourth floor is the Archives, home to the second exhibit, “We Wanted to Fight.”
Laura Mehaffey, the Digital Initiatives Librarian at the Chesnutt Library, stated: “I’m excited about artifacts that we have received from military members.”
Mahaffey is very enthusiastic about showcasing the roles that the Fayetteville State Broncos, both men and women, have had in the military.
We Wanted To Fight exhibit is a 12-part story exhibit consisting of key stories of African-Americans and their courage and bravery to fight in our armed forces. Many stories consist of combat regiments such as the Buffalo Soldiers, an all-African-American combat unit known as the 9th Cavalry Division. They were called the Buffalo Soldiers for their horseback riding.
The We Wanted To Fight exhibit also consists of other non-combat regiments, such as the nursing units, as well as bands and post offices. Their stories are on each pamphlet that details the formation and jobs of the units.
The third and final exhibit is the Fayetteville State University’s Veterans exhibit. This exhibit honors veterans who have had a direct correlation within the university itself as well as played a key part in the United States Armed Forces.
Nicholle Young, archives technician in the Chesnutt Library and 2020 alum stated “I’m honored to showcase the pioneers on the front lines leading to integration of the armed forces and have impacted FSU as alumni. People such as Tuskegee Airmen and Second Lt. Andrew Johnson as well as retired Command Sergeant Major Charles Stevens of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion aka ‘The Triple Nickels.’”
Some of these veterans include notable people such as Rudolph Jones, a former president of the University and the namesake of the Rudolph Jones Student Center, has an exhibit on his former service as a Navy Non-Commissioned Officer during the height of World War II.
The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion history were an all African-American airborne squadron based in North Carolina. They were a 16-man squadron dubbed the “Sweet Sixteen.” They were active during the later years of World War II.
Other exhibits include the 6888th Postal Battalion. This battalion was a mostly African-American, all woman postal service. One member of the battalion was retired private Davetter Butler Shepard, s a graduate of Fayetteville State University in 1982 with a degree in psychology.
Anyone interested in the exhibits can stop by both the library on the first floor and the archives on the fourth floor. Further information regarding historical or Fayetteville history can contact Ms. Young at nyoung01@uncfsu.edu or Mrs. Mehaffey at lmehaffey@uncfsu.edu.
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