Thomas W. Conway facts for kids

Thomas W. Conway was an important person who helped formerly enslaved people right after the American Civil War. He worked as an assistant commissioner for the Freedmen's Bureau, which was a government agency created to help newly freed African Americans. He worked in both Alabama and Louisiana during a time called the Reconstruction era.

Who Was Thomas W. Conway?

Thomas W. Conway was a minister, also known as a Reverend. Before working for the Freedmen's Bureau, he was a superintendent for freed people in the Union Army. This means he was in charge of helping formerly enslaved people in areas controlled by the Union Army during the Civil War.

Starting Work with the Freedmen's Bureau

On June 13, 1865, Conway was chosen to be the assistant commissioner for the Freedmen's Bureau in Louisiana. This was a big job because he was responsible for helping many people. He was also in charge of the Bureau's work in Alabama for a short time in April 1865.

Helping People After Slavery

Conway saw how difficult life was for African Americans in the Southern states after slavery ended. They often didn't have homes or enough food. They also faced violence from some white people. Conway wrote reports about these terrible conditions and asked for money from people in the Northern states to help.

New Rules and Schools

In May 1865, Conway created new rules for workers in Louisiana. These rules were meant to help protect the rights of formerly enslaved people who were now working for wages. He also oversaw the opening of the Abraham Lincoln School. This school was built on the campus of the University of Louisiana (which is now Tulane University) and was specifically for African American students. This was a big step in providing education for people who had been denied it for so long.

Looking for Support

Conway was always looking for ways to improve life for people in Louisiana. In 1866, he wrote a letter to a business group in New York. He wanted their support for a trip to England. He hoped to find investors there who would put money into growing cotton in Louisiana. He believed this would help both white and Black residents and reduce tensions between them.

Conway's Later Work

After new laws called the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 were passed, Conway was no longer an official with the Freedmen's Bureau. However, he stayed in touch with the head of the Bureau, Oliver O. Howard. He continued to report on the help that the Bureau and its workers were giving to groups like the Union League.

Conway was also involved in politics during the Reconstruction era. He helped organize the Republican Party in the South. He was a strong voice in Washington D.C., trying to get the Republican Party to support a different newspaper as its official publication.