Season 1, Episode 2: The Lost Sword of the MA 54th

 

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In this episode, we’re exploring a set of items related to the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African American regiment raised in the North during the American Civil War. We’ll learn about the once lost sword of Robert Gould Shaw – the young white colonel who died leading the 54th into battle. We’ll also look beyond this famous artifact at the ordinary men who served in the 54th. In remarkable numbers, they answered the nation's call to service. Despite unequal pay, discrimination, and the threat of enslavement and death, they fought for the hope of building a better, freer, and more just republic.

Explore more items about the MA 54th here.

Episode transcript

This episode uses materials from:

New England is Interesting by BOPD (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License). 
Psychic by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)
Curious Nature by Dominic Giam of Ketsa Music (licensed under a commercial non-exclusive license by the Massachusetts Historical Society through Ketsa.uk)

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Season 4, Episode 4: Unlocking Winthrop's Tomb
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Season 1, Episode 5: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the "Lowly Hotdog"
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Season 1, Episode 3: The Relics of Nora Saltonstall
Season 1, Episode 2: The Lost Sword of the MA 54th
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