Henry Ossian Flipper was an American soldier, former slave and, in 1877, the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning a commission as a second lieutenant in the US Army. He was assigned to the 10th Cavalry Regiment, one of the four all-black "buffalo soldier" regiments in the Army, and became the first black officer to command regular troops in the U.S. Army. Previously, all-black regiments had been commanded by white officers. [Wikipedia] Studio portrait of Henry Ossian Flipper in military uniform. Written on back of photo: Henry O. Flipper first Black graduate of West Point
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b19_f16_002a.tif ark:/21198/z1wm2xj8
Subject
African American soldiers Flipper, Henry Ossian, 1856-1940 United States. Army. Cavalry, 10th United States. Military Academy, West Point
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.