Flipper, Henry Ossian, 1856-1940

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Henry Ossian Flipper (b. March 21, 1856, Thomasville, GA-d. April 26, 1940, Atlanta, GA) was a soldier, engineer, and author. In 1873 he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, where he became the first African American graduate. Flipper served in the all-Negro 10th Cavalry Regiment in the Southwest and was accused of embezzling funds in 1881. He was cleared of this charge, but found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, and dismissed. Flipper went on to become a successful engineer working in the Western U.S., Mexico, and Venezuela. In 1919 Flipper served as an assistant to the Secretary of the Interior. In 1976 the Army exonerated Flipper and awarded him an honorable discharge.

From the description of Henry O. Flipper Collection. 1914-1978. (Australian National University). WorldCat record id: 51298509

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Flipper, Henry Ossian, 1856-1940. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Grierson, Benjamin Henry, 1826-1911. Papers, 1827-1941. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
creatorOf Flipper, Henry Ossian, 1856-1940. Henry Ossian Flipper letter, 1895. Library of Congress
referencedIn United States. Army. Military Division of the Missouri. Correspondence, 1878-1880, 1963 (bulk 1878-1880). University of Arizona Libraries
referencedIn Court Martial Case Files, 12/1800 - 10/1894 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Flipper, Henry O. -- Lieutenant, 10th Cavalry National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Biography -- Flipper, Henry O. Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library
referencedIn Consolidated Military Officer's File of 2nd Lieutenant Henry O. Flipper, 10th U.S. Cavalry National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Photograph of Lt. Henry O. Flipper Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Letter from Lt. Henry O. Flipper to Representative John A. T. Hull Regarding a Bill Introduced to Congress to Reinstate Lt. Flipper into the Army and Restore His Rank Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Fall, Albert B. (Albert Bacon), 1861-1944. Papers of Albert B. Fall, 1887-1941. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Nolan, Nicholas. Nolan, Flipper, and Patch correspondence, 1879-1880. University of Texas at El Paso
referencedIn Henry O. Flipper - U.S. Army National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Bacote, Clarence, Dr., 1906-1981. Papers, 1936-1980, 1974-1977. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
referencedIn US President William Jefferson Clinton (center) is surrounded by the family members of US Army First Lieutenant (1LT), Henry O. Flipper, the first African American to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point, as the President signs a document pardoning 1LT Flipper for a 1882 Army conviction for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. The dishonorable discharge accompanying the conviction had been changed to honorable in 1976 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Slaughter, John Horton, 1841-1922. Slaughter financial papers, 1820-1937 (bulk 1885-1913). Arizona Historical Society, Southern Arizona Division
contributorOf Committee Papers, 1822 - 1946 Center for Legislative Archives
creatorOf Flipper, Henry Ossian, 1856-1940. Henry O. Flipper Collection. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
contributorOf Committee Papers of the Committee on Military Affairs from the 56th Congress Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Court Case for Henry O. Flipper National Archives at Fort Worth
referencedIn O'Brien, William J. Henry Ossian Flipper : first negro graduate from United States Military Academy, Wets, [i.e. West Point], New York / data compiled and copied by Willaim J. O'Brien. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Mining Company corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Atlanta University. corporateBody
associatedWith Bacote, Clarence, Dr., 1906-1981. person
associatedWith Clinton, Bill, 1946- person
associatedWith Fall, Albert B. (Albert Bacon), 1861-1944. person
associatedWith Flipper, Bishop. person
associatedWith Grierson, Benjamin Henry, 1826-1911. person
correspondedWith Hull, John Albert Tiffin, 1841-1928. person
associatedWith Slaughter, John Horton, 1841-1922. person
memberOf United States. Army. Cavalry, 10th corporateBody
correspondedWith United States. Army. Military Division of the Missouri. corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Thomasville GA US
Atlanta GA US
United States 00 US
Subject
African American soldiers
Frontier and pioneer life
Military cadets
Occupation
Army officers
Authors
Mining engineers
Activity

Person

Birth 1856-03-21

Death 1940-05-03

Americans

Information

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