- Creator
- Cheatham, Henry Plummer, 1892-1940
- Physical description
- 2 file folders
- Preferred Citation
- Henry Plummer Cheatham collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library
- Repository
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
- Access to materials
- Some collections held by the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture are held off-site and must be requested in advance. Please check the collection records in the NYPL's online catalog for detailed location information. To request access to materials in the Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, please visit: http://archives.nypl.org/divisions/scm/request_access Request access to this collection.
This collection contains personal correspondence to Cheatham's siblings (Mamie and Charles) describing his military experience while serving in the Philippine Islands as well as correspondence relating to military regulations during World War I. Also included in the collection is correspondence pertaining to funeral arrangements for Cheatham addressed to his brother Charles Cheatham. There are also programs, an obituary for Cheatham, a speech (possibly by former Congressman Cheatham), and announcements/flyers for an appearance by the congressman.
Biographical/historical information
Henry Plummer Cheatham (1892-1940) was born in Henderson, North Carolina to ex-Congressman (1889-1890) and superintendent of the Colored Orphanage at Oxford, North Carolina, Henry P. Cheatham and his wife Louise Cherry. The younger Cheatham was educated in the public schools of Washington, D.C. and later graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina and Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1925) where he received a law degree with honors. Prior to attending Temple University, Cheatham enlisted in the United States Army (c. 1912).
Cheatham served with the 24th infantry in the Philippines Island for almost the entirety of his enlisted years and earned the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. After serving in the Philippines he resided in New York at which time he enlisted in the 15th New York City Infantry. When the United States entered World War I, the 15th was taken over by the War Department and became the 369th United States Infantry. Cheatham served with the 369th in France, later, he was transferred to the 370th Infantry.
Cheatham graduated with honors from Temple University Law School, class of 1925. After he was admitted to the Bar, he opened offices in Philadelphia where he practiced law until a few months prior to his death.
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift, Armstead-Johnson, Helen, 06/--/1999Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor