Blanche Kelso Bruce

(March 1, 1841 - March 17, 1898)

Blanche Kelso Bruce was borin into slavery near Farmville, Virginia. After the Civil War, he served in the U.S. Senate (1875 - 1880) Whileserving in the Senate, he was an advocate for civil rights for blacks, native Americans, Chinese immigrants and former Confederates.

After serving in the Senate, Bruce held many government appointments, including Register of the Treasury (appointed by President Garfield), recorder of deeds for DC, and a second term as Register of the Treasury. Bruce was the first African American to be represented on US currency, in the form of his signature as Register of the Treasury.