Learn about enslavement, resistance, abolition and the struggle for freedom through biographies and historical records.
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April 28, 1859
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis deed of sale has pre-printed and handwritten text that records the purchase of an enslaved man named Cato (born 1819) sold by J. P. Lapier of Pointe Coupee, Louisiana, an agent for C. E. Girardy & Co. to James Roberts of Jefferson City, Louisiana, for…
March 30, 1861
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis handwritten deed of sale records the purchase of an enslaved boy aged seventeen named John (born 1844) sold by Martha A. Briggs to James Roberts for $1,150.00 in order to pay off a note of $1,200.00 owed by Briggs to H. S. Blood. The paper is folded…
December 8, 1860
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis deed of sale records the sale of an enslaved man named Pierre (born 1835) by Christian Mehle of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and Hortaire Inbau to James Roberts, both of New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 8, 1860. The deed is both pre-printed and…
March 3, 1859
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThis deed of sale records the sale of an enslaved woman named Cassey (born 1819) by Mary McCarthey to Fleming C. Cheatham, both of Carroll Parish, Louisiana, on March 3, 1859. Cassey was 40 years old and was sold for $1,000.00. The deed was recorded by…
1748
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA deed of sale for a house. Transaction is between Cesar Mingo, a "malatto man," and Peter Pinkham for a house in in Dartmouth, Massachusetts for 12 pounds. Deed is a preprinted form with specifics filled in by hand. Cesar Mingo signed the document at the…
August 20, 1798
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGSeven (7) paged deed of sale document between Samuel Smith, Rene Payne, George Smith, John Smith and Robert Lord Carrington for the sum of [nineteen thousand] one hundred and seventeen pounds, eleven shillings. The indenture document is sold by Moulton and…
April 3, 1809
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA deed of transfer for enslaved persons named Alexander, Billy, Judah and children Peter and Lucinda, Winney, Nanny and "old man Phil" from Mrs. Apphia Rouzee, executrix of the late Richard Rouzee, to William Webb. The document is signed in the bottom…
April 3, 1809
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA deed of transfer for enslaved persons named Richmond, Frederick, Sukey and child Henrietta, Simon, WIlliam, Ursula, Junior, Phoebe, Mortimer, Horace and Joe from the estate of Richard Rouzee to William Webb. The document is handwritten in black ink. In…
1862–1863
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Deeds and Leases”.
January 29, 1901
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGBooklet of George H. White’s speech to Congress. The 14-page booklet features discolored off-white paper with black text. The front cover reads [DEFENSE OF THE NEGRO RACE-CHARGES ANSWERED. / "Sow the seed of a tarnished name – / You sow the seed of eternal…
Loading image…Dates not recorded
Delia Garlic (c. 1837 – ?) was a formerly enslaved woman originally from Virginia. Garlic is best known for her first-hand account of slavery, the Civil War, and post-emancipation freedom. In 1937 when she was one hundred years old, the Federal Writers'…
Loading image…1867–1934
Delilah Leontium Beasley (September 9, 1867 – August 18, 1934), was an American historian and newspaper columnist for the Oakland Tribune in Oakland, California. Beasley was the first African American woman to be published regularly in a major metropolitan…
1865
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Demopolis – Talladega”.
c. 1767–1822
A formerly enslaved carpenter who purchased his freedom, Vesey planned a large-scale 1822 rebellion in South Carolina that was betrayed before it could begin.
May 1865–Oct. 1866
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCataloged as “Department of Virginia, U. S. Army”.
Biography
Derecka Purnell is a lawyer, writer, and organizer. She is best known for her 2021 memoir Becoming Abolitionists, which received positive reviews from Boston Review, PEN America, Kirkus, The Guardian, and others.
Date not recorded
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThe single volume of descriptions of property is undated and arranged by the name of the original owner. The volume has a name index.
Date not recorded
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGThe single volume of descriptions of abandoned plantations, ca. 1864 (184), is arranged by plantation.
Date not recorded
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA separate descriptive name index to the third volume of letters sent, July 19, 1869–July 15, 1870, provides a brief one–line summary of each letter. Included in these volumes are copies of a few letters sent by J. H. Barnum, Assistant Superintendent of…
early 19th century
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGCast iron desk box, holding a weighted roller blotter. The box bears an embossed representation of a man kneeling in chains, a famous design by Josiah Wedgewood for the English & Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. The single word "HUMANITY" appears below the…
2005
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA digital aerial photograph of a remnant rice field along a section of the Edisto River running through Willtown Bluff in South Carolina. The river can be seen in the bottom left corner, appearing black against the green and brown grasslands nearby. A…
1865
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA handwritten diary encased in a red leather cover with "Diary / 1865" embossed in gold lettering at top center surrounded by an ornate wreath. The diary is inscribed on the front endpaper in both pencil and ink. The diary begins with several printed pages…
2022
FROM THE SOURCE CATALOGA mixed media artwork with acrylic pigments on street fair farinha (flour) carrying bags by J. Cunha. Nine panels, each depicting a scene of Afro-Brazilian diaspora history, are hand sewn together to form a flag. The artwork is largely done with warm-toned…
Biography
Dick Pointer (before 1778 – 1827) was an American frontier hero and an enslaved African. He is best known for his bravery in the defence of Fort Donnally, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, from a Shawnee attack in 1778. During the attack, he used a…
Biographies, museum objects and archive records are distinct card types. Every card links to its historical source.
