[Vision2020] Idaho history

Thu, 11 Dec 2003 10:03:05 EST

-------------------------------1071154985
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Language: en

Dear Visionaries,
Idaho=E2=80=99s historic treatment of minorities, like most states, is check=
ered. =20
During the Civil War men and women representing both sides of the slavery=20
question migrated to Idaho.  Some were undoubtedly drawn by recent gold disc=
overies,=20
others wished to avoid military obligations.  In the early days of Moscow,=20
most elected leaders proudly listed their service as members of the GAR (Gra=
nd=20
Army of the Republic) in their election information (along with the religiou=
s=20
affiliation). Union Flats, east of Moscow on Lenville Road, was settled by=20
union veterans. One of the first four graduates of the University of Idaho w=
as an=20
African-American woman, Jennie Hughes. =20
Lest, we think Moscow was immune to racism, let me assure you it was not. =20
For example, in the early 20th century, an African American man who was a ba=
rber=20
at the Moscow Hotel, was kicked and beaten to death on a city street by a=20
local deputy sheriff.  The deputy was not charged in the death, although=20
according to the coroner's report the victim died of  ruptured internal orga=
ns, =E2=80=9C
perhaps=E2=80=9D unrelated to his recent beating.  (It has been a couple of=20=
years since I=20
read the original report, so I am paraphrasing the medical findings.) =20
For those interested in local history, please stop by the University of Idah=
o=E2=80=99
s Special Collections Department or the Latah County Historical Society. =20
Both places are staffed by dedicated professionals who are happy to help fol=
ks=20
discover the past, even the parts of it that are not as pleasant as we would=
=20
hope to find. =20
Best,
Rose Huskey
=20

-------------------------------1071154985
Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Language: en

<HTML xmlns:st1 =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns:o=20=
=3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD>
<META charset=3DUTF-8 http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charse=
t=3Dutf-8">
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2734.1600" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff=
f">
Dear Visionaries,
<st1:State><st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>=E2=
=80=99s historic treatment of minorities, like most states, is checkered.<SP=
AN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; During the Civil War men and wo=
men representing both sides of the slavery question migrated to <st1:State><=
st1:place>Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>. &=
nbsp;Some were undoubtedly drawn by recent gold discoveries, others w=
ished to avoid military obligations.&nbsp;=
 In the early days of <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:Ci=
ty>, most elected leaders proudly listed their service as members of the GAR=
 (Grand Army of the Republic) in their election information (along with the=20=
religious affiliation). Union Flats, east of <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st=
1:place></st1:City> on <st1:Street><st1:address>Lenville Road,</st1:address>=
</st1:Street> was settled by union veterans. One of the first four graduates=
 of the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceNa=
me>Idaho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> was an African-American woman, Jennie H=
ughes.&nbsp; 
Lest, we think <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place><=
/st1:City> was immune to racism, let me assure you it was not.&nbsp; For example, in the early 20th</SU=
P> century, an African American man who was a barber at the Moscow Hotel, wa=
s kicked and beaten to death on a city street by a local deputy sheriff.<SPA=
N style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; The deputy was not charged in th=
e death, although according to the coroner's report the victim died of <SPAN=
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;ruptured internal organs, =E2=80=
=9Cperhaps=E2=80=9D unrelated to his recent beating.&nbsp; (It has been a couple of years since I read the orig=
inal report, so I am paraphrasing the medical findings.)&nbsp; 
For those interested in local history, please stop by t=
he <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Id=
aho</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>=E2=80=99s Special Collections Department&nbs=
p;or the Latah County Historical Society.&=
nbsp; Both places are staffed by dedicated professionals who are happ=
y to help folks discover the past, even the parts of it that are not as plea=
sant as we would hope to find.&nbsp; </SPA=
N>
Best,</=
FONT>
Rose Huskey
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></BODY></HTML>

-------------------------------1071154985--