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Art  /  Exhibition  /  We Will Rise!

We Will Rise! Kentucky’s Black Artisans and the Civil War

Broadside Image courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Anderson Fields Image courtesy of the National Archives
William Bell Image courtesy of the National Archives
Mule Pens, Camp Nelson, Kentucky
Soldiers’ Home, Camp Nelson, Kentucky
Workshops, Camp Nelson, Kentucky
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Image courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Anderson Fields (American, born about 1846; died 1911) – Image courtesy of the National Archives

William Bell (American, born about 1835-1845; died 1908) – Image courtesy of the National Archives

Mule Pens, Camp Nelson, Kentucky

Soldiers’ Home, Camp Nelson, Kentucky

Workshops, Camp Nelson, Kentucky

February 1, 2026 – Ongoing

Location: Kentucky Gallery
Curator: Scott Erbes

Step into a hidden chapter of Kentucky history and meet the Black artisans—both free and enslaved—who shaped their communities and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Through army enlistment records from 1864–1865, preserved at the National Archives, we uncover the names, trades, and skills of these remarkable men, giving voice to lives often lost in historical accounts.

While their handcrafted work may not survive, their stories do. This exhibition invites you to imagine their daily lives, their craftsmanship, and their courage, and to reflect on how their talents and patriotic determination helped shape Kentucky and the nation. Walk away inspired by their skill, resilience, and the enduring impact of their lives and legacies.

This project is supported by funding from the Kentucky Historical Society.

We WILL Rise exhibition credit logo

2026 Exhibition Season Sponsors:

Cary Brown and Steven E. Epstein
Susan Dabney Lavin and Allan Lavin
Todd P. Lowe and Fran C. Ratterman
Dr. Victoria Phillips and Travis Anderson

Additional Research for the Black Artisan Soldiers

Press for We Will Rise! Kentucky’s Black Artisans and the Civil War

Rising to the Call, Kentucky Monthly, February 1, 2026