About this Exhibit: Learning to Read, A Soldier’s Story

www.heartlandconnection.com     This exhibition illustrates the plights of the Colored Infantry Soldier during the Civil War. During this time military leaders had to redefine boundaries it placed on the value of learning for all of its soldiers, including the Negro. Colored soldiers were expected to fight, defend and take up arms with their white counterpart on the field of battle. Although many white soldiers were also illiterate, those within the Noncommissioned Officer and Officer Corps did have basic literary skills; but the colored soldiers had none at all. The military understood that for clear and effective communications within the command structure, its leadership must be able to effectively communicate, or simply put “they must possess the ability to read.” Company commanders were aware of this dilemma and most formed learning and reading sessions for their colored soldiers. A goal for promotion set by these commanders was that after one year the soldier had to be able to read at a certain level. These soldiers overcame educational adversity, and many of them “Learned to Read.” When they returned home with this learning tool, many started private institutions of higher learning for their families with the money they saved from the war. Remember that when they did return home, it was still illegal to teach a colored person to read or write. With this information we can understand why many Historical Black Colleges and University all have a founding dates that correlate with the end of the Civil War. Example: Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Missouri; Founded in 1866 by freed slaves of the 62nd and 65th Colored Infantry. The educational message that Mr. Garner and his family want us to understand is a simple one. It’s not where and how you start in life that counts, but how and where you finish. For Sabee.

Guardsmen bring history to life through paintings

HEARTLANDCONNECTION.COM

JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- The Missouri National Guard announces in recognition of African American history month, the Museum of Missouri Military History is hosting the "Learning to Read, a Soldier's Story" exhibit at the Ike Skelton Training Site this month. The display features six paintings portraying what it was like for African American Soldiers learning to read during the Civil War.

The artist, Essex Garner and a group of Lincoln University college students kicked off the opening with a visit to the exhibit Tuesday.

"This exhibition is about life lessons, a celebration of Family, military service, the importance of a good education, and a tribute to the men of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry," said Garner, a Art professor in the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Lincoln University, also a Graduate Student at the University completing his third degree in Art education  and a Missouri National Guard retiree.

Garner worked with a select group of volunteers who were photographed in reproduction period uniforms and painted on canvas by him. Two of the subjects who participated, Master Sgt. Leo Lewis and Sgt. Bruce Shockley, are Missouri Army National Guard members who work full-time at ISTS.

"People back then were very selfless," said Shockley. "They had specific goals that they wanted to achieve. So it's amazing to be a part of something that reenacts that."

In appreciation for taking the time to volunteer, Garner gave the two Soldiers a gift.

"Mr. Garner gave us printouts of the paintings," said Shockley. "I gave mine to my father and he has it hanging on his wall."

Garner carefully chose who he used as subjects for his paintings.

"I didn't want to use just anybody for these images," Garner said. "When I started asking people, I made sure I asked people who I had served with or who are currently in the military. This way, the paintings have an honorary connection to the military and they could hold their own weight. But when put together, they can tell a story." 

                           

One painting within Garner's display shows an Army chaplain teaching a Soldier how to read.

"This picture is trying to illustrate exactly what the guys would look like," said Garner. "I wanted it to look like a dignified man."

African American Soldiers serving in the Civil War couldn't read. At the time, it was illegal to teach African Americans how to read and write. The military realized having illiterate men among its ranks could be an issue, so white officers started reading classes for their troops. 

"A lot of unit commanders came out with unit standing operation procedures that said you have to read at certain levels to reach certain promotions," said Garner.

Later, black enlisted Soldiers of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantries founded Lincoln University. The school would benefit freed African Americans.

The last painting in Garner's display shows two African American Civil War Soldiers on present-day Lincoln University campus.

"I wanted to bring those Soldiers forward 150 years, to the place that they started," said Garner.

The Ike Skelton Training Site is the second stop on a four stop tour for the display. From here, the paintings will be on display at the Gains/Oldham Black Culture Center at the University of Missouri. The final stop will be at Lincoln University.

The paintings are on display outside the Fallen Warrior Memorial Auditorium in the main building at Ike Skelton Training Site.  Several classes from Lincoln University stopped in and viewed the display and got a special treat - Garner was on hand and talked about the exhibit and how it developed. 


A student at the showing, Johnell McGee, a senior at the University studying studio art, talked about his observations following the exhibit.


"I think all of the works that I see are breathtaking.  It's really motivating me to work harder at my craft and think more about the ties and connections than the art itself," said McGee, a Chicago native.  "I like how he didn't just pick anybody; he used recent Soldiers and that kind of ties it into the history of the Soldiers from back then."


Garner's wife, Larna, is writing her second children's book and Garner's paintings will be the featured images for story tale.

Garner spent more than half of his 25 years in the Army as an illustrator, artist, and draftsman. He started out in the Active-duty Army and later joined the Missouri Army National Guard, where he retired in 2003.

The exhibition will run through February 29.  The paintings will be on display outside the Fallen Warrior Memorial Auditorium in the main building at Ike Skelton Training Site.  Visitation is free and open to the public during regularly scheduled business hours Monday through Friday. 

                            

The Museum of Missouri Military History was established in 1996 as an Army and Air National Guard Museum.  The museum acquires, preserves, protect, and display military equipment, records, relics, and memorabilia representing the Missouri Militia and the Missouri Army and Air National Guard heritage. The museum is open to the public free of charge.

Garner's paintings can be viewed on his website at www.essexgarner.com. For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com.

Supporting photos can be downloaded from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard/sets/72157629131658505/