Collections

Letter to Elizabeth Burton in Williamsboro, Granville County, North Carolina from her Aunt Adeline Alston, dated 1850 and letter to niece Margaret Burton in Williamsboro, Granville County, North Carolina from Aunt M. P. Alston, dated 1863. Family news, particularly health of family members.

Collection contains a certificate, certified by the State of New York, for a 24 year old Black American mariner, Christopher Bracey. The document includes Bracey's place of birth in Norfolk, Virginia and a physical description of Bracey. The document states that Bracey was a "Freeman and citizen of the United States of America and entitled to be respected accordingly".

Court documents, 1817-1821, relating to Harry, a free black man living in Clark County, Indiana. In the first suit, John H. Thompson brought charges against Isaac Shelby on behalf of Harry, stating that Shelby had illegally detained him. This case was dismissed in March 1817. In April 1817, a suit is brought against Thomas Pile, William Pile, David Smith, and William P. Lee for "manstealing," or the abduction of Harry. This case is eventually dismissed in 1821 due to the fact that Harry cannot appear.

Account book, 1837-1841, of Henry Prince, a barber. Henry Prince was on the 1840 Shenanadoah County, Virginia Census as a free black.

Letter from Oscar F. Alston, Cleveland, Ohio, to his wife about his trip to Cleveland, partly by boat. He took his children with him and tells his wife how much they miss her. 1865. Per a researcher, Mr. Alston was part of a major migration of free people of color to Ohio from North Carolina.

Contains letters, bills, receipts, business accounts, and miscellaneous personal writings of the Laine and Travis families of Southampton County, Va. The bulk of the collection concerns the business and general financial affairs of the Laine family, particularly Jeremy and Miles Laine. It also contains several short personal writings of the Travis family, who were the final owners of Nat Turner prior to his rebellion. This includes the names and birthdays of many members of the family shortly before 1831. Also featured is a letter discussing an enslaved girl asking to be resold to her previous owner as well as the business agreements of several "Free Negroes," including the apprenticeship indenture of a boy who was involved in Virginia's placement program for illegitimate children. This collection also contains correspondence with the United States Pension Agency and various nineteenth century advertisements.