Featured Collections: African American Veterans of Kent County

Veterans are the past and present protectors of our land. Their willingness to defend our country is the reason we are all can say we live in the land of the free. Throughout every war in America’s history African Americans from Kent County have made contributions to protect our nation and defend democracy. Research conducted at Sumner Hall reveals that over 1000 Kent County African American have served in the military over the past four centuries, and those are only veterans that have been documented so far. This collection aims to highlight African Americans from Kent County who served in the military. It features photographs, oral history interviews, documents and other military materials. Achievements are on display in this collection such as veteran and Kent County’s second African American Commissioner Commander William Pickrum, strong African American women like Ruby Norman and Eleanor Ringgold, and so many more stories are featured. We all have benefited from their efforts.