Cathay Williams: Female Buffalo Soldier

Join us on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. for Cathay Williams: Female Buffalo Soldier with historical impersonator, Dr. Daisy Century. The event will be held in the Fred P. Meagher Theatre, located in the Thomas A. Bruder, Jr. Life Center at Neumann University. This is the fifth of eight lectures in the Cultural Arts Forum 2025-2026 Seminar Series. The Life Center and Theatre are both handicapped accessible.

Admission for every lecture is $10. All lectures are free to Cultural Arts Forum members and Neumann faculty, staff, and students. 

Become a CAF member for the year for only $45! Register online here: CAF Membership

Back by popular demand, Dr. Century will portray Cathay Williams. Despite the prohibition against women serving in the military, Williams enlisted in the U.S. Regular Army under the false name of “William Cathay” on November 15, 1866. She enlisted for a three-year engagement, passing herself off as a man. Williams was assigned to the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment after she passed the cursory medical examination. Though this exam should have outed her as a woman, the Army did not require full medical exams at this time. Daisey Century is a teacher, a published author, actress, singer and a historical reenactor. She has traveled all the U.S. performing at many prestigious institutions.

If you have any questions about the Cultural Arts Forum membership or this event, please contact Nick DiMarino at dimarinn@neumann.edu or 610-558-5626.