Dr. Stephen McBride is the Director of Interpretation and Archaeology at Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park in Nicholasville. He will speak on Camp Nelson’s role as both a recruitment and training camp for African-American soldiers (known at the time as United States Colored Troops) and as a refugee center for the wives and children of these soldiers. Since Kentucky’s slaves were not freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, as Kentucky was not a state in rebellion, the enlistment of enslaved men into the army was the first major step in the destruction of slavery in the state. The second step was the March 3, 1865 Congressional Act which freed the wives and children of these African American soldiers. This Act was a direct result of the November 1864 expulsion of refugees at Camp Nelson. McBride will utilize both archival and archaeological data in this talk.

McBride has authored or co-authored numerous articles on the historical archaeology and history of Camp Nelson and other sites, in addition to co-editing Historical Archaeology in Kentucky. He recently co-authored a booklet, Seizing Freedom: Archaeology of Escaped Slaves at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, which will be available at this lecture.

There is no cost for this event, though reservations are suggested. You may reserve your seat by visiting www.filsonhistorical.org or by calling The Filson at (502) 635-5083.