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Thursday, January 25, 2007
(Jonathan Wiggs/ Globe Staff)
Governor Deval Patrick today in his office today pointed to
the recently hung portrait of Governor John Albion Andrew, a
abolitionist who helped activate the U.S. Army's first
all-black regiments during the Civil War.
By Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff
Governor Deval Patrick seized another opportunity
to educate the public about the state's African-American
history today when he unveiled the portrait of one of his
predecessors he chose to hang above the fire place in his
State House office.
Governor John Albion Andrew led Massachusetts during the
Civil War. Showing off his painting to reporters in his office
high over Beacon Street today, Patrick said that Andrew
shocked Boston's elite by accepting the invitation to have
Thanksgiving dinner at the Beacon Hill home of Lewis Hayden, a
free black man who escaped from slavery and became an
abolitionist. At the dinner, Patrick said, Hayden persuaded
Andrew that black men should be allowed to fight in the Union
Army, and he urged Andrew to take the idea to President
Lincoln.
Andrew agreed and played a critical role in the activation
of the 54th and 55th Regiments, the Army's first all-black
regiments, Patrick said.
"It seemed Governor Andrew would be a fitting partner to
keep me company here in the governor's office," Patrick
said.
Patrick, the state's first African-American governor, took
his oath of office on the Mendi Bible, which was given to John
Quincy Adams by a group of African captives who staged a
mutiny on the slave ship Amistad. Adams, a lawyer, persuaded
the US Supreme Court to free the men.
Patrick learned about both Governor Andrew and the Mendi
Bible from Beverly A. Morgan-Welch, executive director of the
Museum of African American History on Beacon Hill and a
co-chair of Patrick's inaugural committee.
Tradition has each Massachusetts governor select a portrait
of a former governor whom he admires to adorn his office
walls.
Posted by the Boston Globe City &
Region Desk at 05:09
PM
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