A letter from William H. Seward, Secretary of State, presents a resolution proposing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to extend voting rights to people of color. The letter includes excerpts from the Governor of Tallahassee and references Article XV, advocating for equal voting rights for all citizens.
The autographed baseball belonging to Andre Dawson, an alumnus of FAMU and hall of famer. The baseball is s a tangible piece of history, imbued with the memories and moments of Dawson’s journey from college baseball at FAMU to major league baseball's Hall of Fame.
In this financial document, Union Bank of Florida hired three people for the appraisement of Jefse H Millis estate with the addition of a list of slaves. The listed names have ages, prices, and total sums.
The Bateba, in Fante culture, is a guardian spirit that protects women and children from harmful field spirits. It symbolizes nurturing, protection, and resilience. At FAMU, the Bateba represents a cultural link to African heritage, emphasizing the protective role of spiritual figures in the lives of families and communities throughout history.
The Buffalo Soldier Stratton hat is a distinctive military headgear associated with the African American cavalry regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers, and belonged to Benjamin French. Crafted from durable materials, it features a wide brim and a high crown, symbolizing pride and resilience.
Boston-based publishing company Peirce and Parker released “Condition of American Colored Population and the Colony at Liberia” in 1833. This intriguing publication touches on the lives of African Americans and the progress of the emerging Liberian colony; albeit brief, it sets the stage for deeper analysis.
In this 1844 correspondence, Bennett Dell requests the return of enslaved individuals from General W. G. Worthe. The letter reflects the legal and personal disputes over enslaved people, who were considered property under the law. This document highlights the control and commodification of Black lives in pre-Civil War Southern society.
The Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War medal (1861-1865) honors female descendants of Union soldiers. This FCL (Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty) medal features symbolic imagery from the Civil War era, representing service and sacrifice.
These rare 1832 slave documents from the Abraham Cabell estate provide detailed records of all of the slaves on the property and other purchases that were made. The list includes names, household items, property, and prices for everything.
B. W. Taylor’s Estate Paper’s included a legal document that authorized the seizure and sale of an enslaved person to satisfy a debt or court judgment known as a Writ of Execution. This rare record illustrates the legal system’s role in treating enslaved individuals as property through the intersection of slavery and financial transactions.
These rare 1843 slave documents from the deceased Edmund Brooke estate provide an itemized list of all of the slaves on the property. This list includes gender and age identifiers before each of their names, along with the price for each person.
Rare 1850 slavery documents from the Ellen Brockenborough estate include a will and receipts of transfer between family members. These records provide critical insight into the legal and economic treatment of enslaved people as property, revealing the deep entrenchment of slavery in family estates.
These rare 1841 slavery documents detail the hiring of Georg A. Croom's enslaved individuals, providing a unique glimpse into the leasing practices of the time. These records include contracts and financial arrangements, offering insight into the economic exploitation of enslaved labor and the broader system of slavery in the antebellum South.
This document is an account of the enslaved African persons belonging to John Breto, Jr. It contains a list of their names and prices, calculated on December 30, 1848, for the year 1849.
Estate papers of John Miller include his will and testament, detailing the distribution of property, including enslaved individuals. These documents provide significant insight into the legal processes surrounding inheritance and the treatment of enslaved people as assets, showcasing the economic reliance on slavery in the antebellum South.
This document offers an inventory of the personal property belonging to the estate of John P. Duval. It contains a list of names of enslaved people and their prices.
The 1854 petition by John Winer outlines the division of his deceased mother’s property, including employment of enslaved persons, with his sister. This document reveals the complexities of familial inheritance, the management of enslaved labor, and the economic implications of slavery within family dynamics.
These rare 1853 slavery documents from the estate of Nathan Holt in Leon County detail the inventory, valuation, and transfer of enslaved individuals. These records offer crucial insights into the management and distribution of enslaved labor within an estate, reflecting the economic and social structures of slavery in mid-19th century Florida.
These rare 1862 slave documents from the Richard Call estate provide a detailed account of enslaved individuals at the Lake Jackson Plantation in Florida. These records include names, ages, and roles of enslaved people, offering critical insight into the operations of the estate and the broader system of slavery during the Civil War era.
The rare 1863 will and testament from Richard Call Keith provide documentation of his wishes to pass down his property. This document includes not only a written statement but also a list of all of the slaves he had ownership of. The list includes each of their names, ages, health conditions, and prices.
This rare 1850 slave document from Robert Larkin's estate discusses the manner of the estate's distribution. The ledgers include descriptions and price breakdowns.
The Gadsden County court administered the estate of Titus Farr. The administration detailed Farr's assets, reflecting the economic reliance on enslaved labor in the region. This process underscored the legal framework of property management, where enslaved people were treated as assets and sold to settle debts.
Hon. Amasa Walker’s speech addressed the universal demand for cotton in manufacturing, noting its rising value and production. He argued for keeping the slave trade open to sustain labor demands, highlighting Northern opposition to Africanization and the South’s reliance on enslaved labor, deeming secession inevitable.
A notable speech given by Thomas A. Hendricks, a U.S. Senator from Indiana, during the post-Civil War era. This speech was delivered as part of the ongoing national debate over Reconstruction policies aimed at reintegrating the Southern states that had seceded during the Civil War and addressing the rights of freed African Americans.
