Black History Month: Photo series and vignettes

In honour of Black History Month, here are a few noteworthy individuals associated with the University of Manitoba during the past 100 years.

Tom Casey

Tom Casey (BA/52, MD/57) played for the Blue Bombers while a medical student at the University of Manitoba. Both photos are from the Hugh Allan fonds.

Casey reading to children at the Winnipeg Shriners Hospital in 1955.

Casey playing for the Blue Bombers in 1953.

Hewburn Greenridge

Hewburn Greenridge was the first black man to graduate from the University of Manitoba (MD/1920). There’s more information on Greenridge in the 1920 Brown in Gold: “Hewburn N. Greenridge, ‘the dark horse,’ has the distinction of being the first man of his race to graduate from this University. He served with the Canadian Forces in France and the best wishes of the boys go with him to the tropics, where he intends to practice.” (NB: Also spelled “Greenidge.”)

According to the website georgebrooksca.wordpress.com, there is an interesting connection between Hewburn Greenridge and a man named George St. Pierre Brooks, who was not affiliated with the U of M. A blog post suggests that of 605 black men who enlisted in the Construction Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, two of the enlisted were from Winnipeg: Brooks and Greenridge, who both were in the CEF.

Greenridge is in the last row, third person from the left, in the 1915 medical college class photo.

George St. Pierre Brooks

The Winnipeg Tribune 1945 photo shows George St. Pierre Brooks with boxer Joe Louis at Deer Lodge. The photo with a Deer Lodge Nurse was taken when he was approximately 102 years old. He believed, but records could not confirm, that his date of birth was actually earlier so he may have been a few years older when this photo was taken. George St. Pierre Brooks was a veteran of the First World War, the American Civil War, and the Spanish-American War as well. He was born a slave in Kentucky and died at Deer Lodge Hospital in Winnipeg.

This photo with a Deer Lodge Nurse was taken when he was approximately 102 years old.

He believed, but records could not confirm, that his date of birth was actually earlier so he may have been a few years older when this photo was taken.

The Winnipeg Tribune 1945 photo shows George St. Pierre Brooks with boxer Joe Louis at Deer Lodge.

There are a few articles on Brooks in the Winnipeg Tribune at the following links:

Lindley Abdulah

Lindley Abdulah was the 42nd UMSU President in 1960 (May-September).

Horace Patterson

Horace Patterson was the 51st UMSU President in 1968-1969.

All photos and information courtesy of Archives & Special Collections, University of Manitoba Libraries.

UM Today Staff

Alumni, Archives, Black History Month

3 comments on “Black History Month: Photo series and vignettes”

Cynthia Faryon — January 7, 2019 at 6:06 am

I have written a book about George S. Brooks. I’m looking for a publisher right now for this fascinating story. George was born in Brooksville Kentucky in 1841 … he was 107 when he died at Deer Lodge Veteran’s Hospital in 1948

Tara Taronno — September 26, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Hello!
I was recently at an estate sale where I picked up a painting of Lindley Abdulah. Would anyone at UMSU be interested in purchasing this painting?
Just thought it may be something the university would be interested in owning.
For your consideration,
-Tara Taronno

Kathy Grant — May 13, 2022 at 9:42 am

Dear Cynthia Faryon
re your: I have written a book about George S. Brooks. I’m looking for a publisher right now for this fascinating story. George was born in Brooksville Kentucky in 1841 … he was 107 when he died at Deer Lodge Veteran’s Hospital in 1948

What is the name of your book on George Brooks and how can we obtain copies.

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