This is a picture of James E. Murdoch.  He was born in Philadelphia and had a very successful acting career.  Once he retired, he moved to his farm in Ohio.  He was one of my many acting coaches, and I was very fortunate to have him as a teacher.  He’d also written a book on vocal culture.  

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 61. Print.

"James E Murdoch - Google Search." James E Murdoch - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=james e murdoch&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_7LKB-dTJAhVC7CYKHRaiAywQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=d2FrXwQNaxByIM:>.

The man in this picture is Henry Boyd who was a carpenter that I lived with before I went to fight in the armed forces.  Carpentry was one of the skills I did acquire in my lifetime and I even used it after my time of service.   Anyways, this is an ad of Henry Boyd’s bedsteads.  The “Boyd Bedstead" was a canopy bed that had wooden rails which connected to the head and footboard of the bed.  Boyd’s Bedsteads were sturdy and ended up being very successful, so successful that many other businesses copied his product.  Since Boyd didn’t have the right to have a patent he ensured people were buying his product by stamping his beds.

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Boyd, Henry – Cincinnati Cabinetmaker." Internet Antique Gazette. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

"Digging Cincinnati History: Henry Boyd - Former Slave and Cincinnati Entrepreneur." Digging Cincinnati History: Henry Boyd - Former Slave and Cincinnati Entrepreneur. Web. 11 Dec. 2015.

"Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25846193>.

"Henry Boyd." Person Details for Powtan Beaty in Household of , "United States Census, 1860" Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLT-MSC>.

This is a sketch by William Waud. It’s from the newspaper company called Harper’s Weekly.  The sketch is of the battle at Chapin’s Farm on September 29, 1864.  I fought in this battle.  This was the day where my brave actions later earned me the Medal of Honor and the Butler Medal.

"Battle of Chapin's Farm." Battle of Chapin's Farm. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1864/october/battle-chapin-farm.htm>.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

This is a picture of the Black Brigade Monument.  Its located at Smale Riverfront Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The monument was dedicated September 9, 2012 for the 150 year anniversary of the Black Brigade.  During the Black Brigade the Confederate troops appeared to be coming for Ohio.  Governor David Tod had called upon the people of Ohio to defend southern borders.  The “Black Brigade”  was the defense for Cincinnati and I served in the Third Regiment, Company 1, for three weeks.  Everyone’s efforts in the Black Brigade played an important role in the retreat of Confederate troops.  

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

"The Black Brigade Monument at Smale Riverfront Park." The Black Brigade Monument at Smale Riverfront Park. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc20/black_brigade1.htm>.

September 29, 1864, in Virginia at the battle of New Market Heights (Chapin’s Farm) marked an important day in my life.  I was in Company G and during retreat and I noticed our flag bearer was killed.  So I retrieved our flag by running through 600 yards of enemy fire.  Once I came back many of our men were killed so I stepped up and took command of what was left of our company and lead them against Confederate troops.  I was later awarded the Medal of Honor which is the highest award anyone can receive while serving in the armed forces.  A total of 13 negro soldiers won the Medal of Honor at the battle of New Market Heights and I was humbled to among them.

Hanna, Charles W. African American Recipients of the Medal of Honor: A Biographical Dictionary, Civil War through Vietnam War. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2002. 16-17 & 34. Print.

"MedalOfHonor." CMOHS.org. Web. 9 Dec. 2015.

In this picture of me I am wearing two medals.  I was awarded the Medal of Honor, which is on the left.  The medal on the right, is the Butler medal which was made by General Benjamin Butler and awarded to negroes for heroic and courageous acts at the battle of New Market Height’s (Chapin’s Farm).  On the bottom of the medal it says” “US Colored Troops” and above it has the words “Ferro iss libertas perveniet” which is Latin and means “Freedom will be theirs by the sword.”  General Butler saw me retrieve the flag and lead my company that day which is the reason for my being awarded the Butler Medal.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 23-25 & 70-73. Print.

Price, James S. The Battle of New Market Heights: Freedom Will Be Theirs by the Sword. Charleston: History, 2011. 86-87. Print.

Web. 10 Dec. 2015. <http://blog.encyclopediavirginia.org/files/2014/06/beaty.jpg>.

This is a picture of my oldest son, A. Lee Beaty.  I had two other sons, Powhatan and John Beaty.  I had A. Lee Beaty in Cincinnati with my wife Mary Le Beaty in 1871.  Since I was a Medal of Honor war veteran and worked at Lincoln and Blaine Clubs, he was exposed to the world of politics at an early age.  He went on to studying law at the University of Cincinnati, and was elected twice to the Ohio Legislature.  

"A. Lee Beaty | The Ohio Statehouse." A. Lee Beaty | The Ohio Statehouse. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/museum/george-washington-williams-room/african-american-legislators/a-lee-beaty>.

Ohio's African American Civil War Heritage: A Collection of Essays by the Research History Classes 2000-2003, Washington [Senior] High School, Washington C.H., Ohio. Washington C.H. [i.e. Washington Court House], Ohio: Research History Class of Washington [Senior] High School, 2003. 72-73. Print.

This is a picture of Henrietta Vinton Davis.  Henrietta Vinton Davis helped me get my big break as an actor.  She was a well-known negro actress in America and when she came to perform in Cincinnati, she heard of my public speaking abilities and arranged  for us to do Shakespeare scenes together from Macbeth.  We had a very successful performance and were commended by both black and white people.  This led me to perform more shakespeare scenes with her at Ford’s Opera House with a full crowd of over 1,100 people.    

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Henrietta Vinton Davis - Google Search." Henrietta Vinton Davis - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=henrietta vinton davis&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjAxPbW-NTJAhUHWCYKHbfIBW4QsAQIGg#imgrc=sxxUt-3kXrlV9M:>.

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 61-63 & 67-69. Print.

This is a picture of Ford’s Opera House which is located in Washington, D.C.  I performed Shakespeare scenes here with Henrietta Vinton Davis, where we performed before a crowd of over 1,100 people, and both black and white communities commended our performance.  Washington Post which was a highly regarded newspaper company said, “…The scene from Macbeth went creditably, all things considered, Miss Davis and Mr. Beaty showing a knowledge of the requirements of the parts which they essayed which, it is safe to say, surprised those in the audience competent to judge.”  (Hill, 1986)  The New York Globe company had said about me, “Mr. Beaty would compare very favorably with many white actors I have seen.  He posses the art of losing sight to self, and the impression he would make, and seems to be entirely absorbed in the part he takes, as though it were real and not theatrical.” (Hill, 1986)

Bielakowski, Alexander M. Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. 2013. Print.

"Fords Opera House Washington Dc - Google Search." Fords Opera House Washington Dc - Google Search. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <https://www.google.com/search?q=fords opera house washington dc&espv=2&biw=1123&bih=634&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjWzKqZ-tTJAhXK7CYKHQDRBLMQ_AUIBygC#imgrc=GxLawqAD3FW8hM:>.

Hill, Errol. Shakespeare in Sable a History of Black Shakespearean Actors. Amherst: U of Massachusetts, 1984. 63 & 68-69. Print.

Martin, James B. African American War Heroes. 19-20. Print.

This is a picture of my gravestone.  It is located at the Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The inscription on my grave-marker mentions how I was a 1st Sergeant in the Civil War and a Medal of Honor winner.  I died in Cincinnati on December 6, 1916.  I lived to be 79 years old.  

"Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials." Find A Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. <http://forums.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8562387>.