These images show some of the many African Americans who fought or worked for the Union Army in the Civil War.

Thomas was born into slavery and lived a harsh life, but he was finally able to escape and reunite with his family.

When Africans were brought to American shores in chains, they brought pieces of Africa with them and used their traditions, music and culture to help them survive.

William Wells Brown was born into slavery and later escaped to become one of the foremost supporters of abolition.

Patty, a young enslaved girl, shares some insight about life on a South Carolina plantation.

In this poem, Nell and her family follow the North Star and navigate the Underground Railroad to freedom.

J.D. Green was born into slavery but spent his life resisting the institution by escaping to freedom five times.

Young Delia learns a hard lesson from her papa about what it means to be enslaved on George Washington’s plantation.

Charles Henry Langston was an early abolitionist in Ohio who risked his own safety and freedom to help another man escape slavery.

This advertisement, published in the Southwestern Christian Advocate in 1883, was included in the "Lost Friends" section of the newspaper. Advertisements like this were published after emancipation by African Americans seeking their relatives. Families of enslaved people were often separated during enslavement. Here, S. L. Jones searches for his or her relatives.