Major Jose H. Sherwood, 1918. Sherwood commanded the Sixteenth Battalion of the Minnesota Home Guard.

Charles Sumner Smith was Captain of Company D of the Sixteenth Battalion, Minnesota Home Guard. He was a founding member of the Twin Cities Protective League and the Minneapolis NAACP. After the Duluth lynchings he helped with the founding of the Duluth NAACP. Image is from the St. Paul Appeal, August 25, 1917.

Patrick. H. Southall was Second Lt. of Company D of the Sixteenth Battalion, Minnesota Home Guard. Image is from the St. Paul Appeal, March 31, 1917.

Charles Miller was a founding member of the St. Paul NAACP and led the Sixteenth Battalion Drum Corps. Image is from the St. Paul Appeal, March 31, 1917.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.