Black and white photograph of Dr. Valdo Turner in his office, c.1915.

Dr. Valdo Turner

Dr. Valdo Turner in his office, ca.1915. Turner was vice president of the St. Paul NAACP and captain of the Sixteenth Battalion Medical Corps, Minnesota Home Guard.

Black and white newspaper image of George W. Holbert, c.1911.

George W. Holbert

George W. Holbert, c.1911. Holbert was Second Lt. of Company C of the Sixteenth Battalion, Minnesota Home Guard. Image is from the St. Paul Appeal, October 28, 1911.

Sixteenth Battalion, Minnesota Home Guard

During World War I, African American Minnesotans wanted to serve their state and their nation. Historically, however, the U.S. military had been racist in its recruiting. It allowed African Americans to serve only in segregated units. Facing this institutional racism, the African American community of Minnesota asked Governor J.A.A. Burnquist to form an all-African American battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard. The Sixteenth Battalion became the first Minnesota-recruited African American military unit in state history.

An advertisement for a concert put on by the Sixteenth Battalion Band from the St. Paul Appeal, October 25, 1919. The band was led by Lieutenant William Howard.

Advertisement for Sixteenth Battalion Band concert

An advertisement for a concert put on by the Sixteenth Battalion Band from the St. Paul Appeal, October 25, 1919. The band was led by Lieutenant William Howard.

Black and white photograph of embers of Company A, Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard, c.1918.

Members of Company A, Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard

Members of Company A, Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard, ca.1918. Standing at right is Captain Clarence Wigington, who petitioned the governor to allow the formation of an African American unit. To his left is Lieutenant Homer Goins. Seated (L to R) are Dr. George Berry and Sergeant William Griffin. The remaining pictured are unidentified.

Black and white photograph of members of the Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard, c.1918. After petitioning the governor, African American citizens formed their own battalion in order to serve.

Members of the Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard

Members of the Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard, c.1918. After petitioning the governor, African American citizens formed their own battalion in order to serve.

Color image of the Kirby Puckett memorial plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, 2012.

Kirby Puckett Hall of Fame plaque

Close-up view of the Kirby Puckett memorial plaque in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Photographed by Flickr user Neil R on October 13, 2012.

Color image of a statue of Kirby Puckett at Target Field in Minneapolis, 2010.

Kirby Puckett statue

Statue of Kirby Puckett at Target Field in Minneapolis. Photographed by Jeramey Jannene on August 7, 2010.

Color image of Kirby Puckett at batting practice, c.1994.

Kirby Puckett at batting practice

Kirby Puckett at batting practice, c.1994. The site that originally offered MNopedia permission to use the image, baseballtoddsdugout.com, was taken down after 2014. Originally, the image appeared at http://www.baseballtoddsdugout.com/puckettobit.html.

Color image of Kirby Puckett batting against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Camden Yards.

Kirby Puckett at bat

Kirby Puckett batting against the Baltimore Orioles during a game at Camden Yards. Photographed by Jeff Self on July 17, 1993.

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