Freedmen and Southern Society Project
@fssp.bsky.social
The Freedmen & Southern Society Project was established in 1976 to capture the essence of the profound social revolution of emancipation in the United States.
From the archive, Black education was under assault from its earliest origins after emancipation:
"A very respectable young colored Female, teacher of the colored School near Vienna Dorchester Co md. was assaulted on the road near the school House by a white man named Cyrus Stack."
"A very respectable young colored Female, teacher of the colored School near Vienna Dorchester Co md. was assaulted on the road near the school House by a white man named Cyrus Stack."
November 6, 2025 at 3:42 PM
From the archive, Black education was under assault from its earliest origins after emancipation:
"A very respectable young colored Female, teacher of the colored School near Vienna Dorchester Co md. was assaulted on the road near the school House by a white man named Cyrus Stack."
"A very respectable young colored Female, teacher of the colored School near Vienna Dorchester Co md. was assaulted on the road near the school House by a white man named Cyrus Stack."
In December 1865, 2500 Black Washingtonians petitioned Congress for the right to vote. "Experience teaches," they wrote, "that all reforms have their opponents. The same experience also teaches that apprehensions of evil arising from reforms founded in justice, are but seldom if ever realized."
Black Residents of Washington, D.C., to the U.S. Congress, December 1865
www.freedmen.umd.edu
November 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In December 1865, 2500 Black Washingtonians petitioned Congress for the right to vote. "Experience teaches," they wrote, "that all reforms have their opponents. The same experience also teaches that apprehensions of evil arising from reforms founded in justice, are but seldom if ever realized."
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
Same as it ever was
After emancipation, Black schoolteacher & future Alabama state legislator William V. Turner reported to the Freedmen's Bureau that local officials were illegally withholding food assistance from Black mothers, telling them it "is not for negroes, but for the poor white women."
Alabama Black Teacher to the Alabama Freedmen's Bureau Superintendent of Education, February 5, 1867; and Headquarters of the Alabama Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner to the Government Relief ...
www.freedmen.umd.edu
November 4, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Same as it ever was
After emancipation, Black schoolteacher & future Alabama state legislator William V. Turner reported to the Freedmen's Bureau that local officials were illegally withholding food assistance from Black mothers, telling them it "is not for negroes, but for the poor white women."
Alabama Black Teacher to the Alabama Freedmen's Bureau Superintendent of Education, February 5, 1867; and Headquarters of the Alabama Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner to the Government Relief ...
www.freedmen.umd.edu
November 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
After emancipation, Black schoolteacher & future Alabama state legislator William V. Turner reported to the Freedmen's Bureau that local officials were illegally withholding food assistance from Black mothers, telling them it "is not for negroes, but for the poor white women."
A Black veteran, Sergeant Joe Brown, testified that he was attacked by white cops in Memphis for having served in the military:
"he then stepped back a few paces & ran up and struck me with his club, on the head."
"he then stepped back a few paces & ran up and struck me with his club, on the head."
Statement by a Tennessee Black Sergeant, September 11, 1865
www.freedmen.umd.edu
November 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A Black veteran, Sergeant Joe Brown, testified that he was attacked by white cops in Memphis for having served in the military:
"he then stepped back a few paces & ran up and struck me with his club, on the head."
"he then stepped back a few paces & ran up and struck me with his club, on the head."
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
“…the longor you keep my Child from me the longor you will have to burn in hell and the qwicer youll get their…”
Spotswood Rice, a Black soldier in the US Army, to a Missouri woman who held his daughter in slavery, #otd 1864
Spotswood Rice, a Black soldier in the US Army, to a Missouri woman who held his daughter in slavery, #otd 1864
September 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
“…the longor you keep my Child from me the longor you will have to burn in hell and the qwicer youll get their…”
Spotswood Rice, a Black soldier in the US Army, to a Missouri woman who held his daughter in slavery, #otd 1864
Spotswood Rice, a Black soldier in the US Army, to a Missouri woman who held his daughter in slavery, #otd 1864
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
The Freedmen and Southern Society Project is a terrific resource and everyone should use it!
As we begin the 1st few weeks of classes, a reminder that FSSP hosts a large collection of classroom-ready documents related to slavery & its destruction. These first-hand testimonies of enslaved people, Black soldiers, & officials give life to lessons on slavery & the contested arc of emancipation.
Freedmen and Southern Society Project: Selected Documents
A selection of documents from Freedom: A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861-1867
www.freedmen.umd.edu
September 3, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The Freedmen and Southern Society Project is a terrific resource and everyone should use it!
As we begin the 1st few weeks of classes, a reminder that FSSP hosts a large collection of classroom-ready documents related to slavery & its destruction. These first-hand testimonies of enslaved people, Black soldiers, & officials give life to lessons on slavery & the contested arc of emancipation.
Freedmen and Southern Society Project: Selected Documents
A selection of documents from Freedom: A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861-1867
www.freedmen.umd.edu
September 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
As we begin the 1st few weeks of classes, a reminder that FSSP hosts a large collection of classroom-ready documents related to slavery & its destruction. These first-hand testimonies of enslaved people, Black soldiers, & officials give life to lessons on slavery & the contested arc of emancipation.
The latest issue of Scholarly Editing by @editorial-notes.bsky.social features an important essay on how to use documentary editing assignments to help students grapple w the legacies of inequalities, esp in instances where teaching abt these topics is banned. Highly recommend!
Teaching Tolerance and Empathy through Digital Documentary Editing
scholarlyediting.org
June 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM
The latest issue of Scholarly Editing by @editorial-notes.bsky.social features an important essay on how to use documentary editing assignments to help students grapple w the legacies of inequalities, esp in instances where teaching abt these topics is banned. Highly recommend!
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
We hope you'll join us for today's Annual Meeting sessions and again tomorrow for Rachel Lane's lightning talk about "My Hat Is In the Drink: The Story Behind the Cocktail Inspired by TR’s Unprecedented Run for a Third Term." All Annual Meeting info: www.documentaryediting.org/wordpress/?p...
June 17, 2025 at 8:05 AM
We hope you'll join us for today's Annual Meeting sessions and again tomorrow for Rachel Lane's lightning talk about "My Hat Is In the Drink: The Story Behind the Cocktail Inspired by TR’s Unprecedented Run for a Third Term." All Annual Meeting info: www.documentaryediting.org/wordpress/?p...
After emancipation, Green Jones testified that he was dragged from his home & brutally beaten by white vigilantes for daring to rent land & employ other formerly enslaved people.
The men told him "that they would not allow negroes to live off to themselves."
The men told him "that they would not allow negroes to live off to themselves."
Statement of a Louisiana Freedman, August 18, 1866
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 13, 2025 at 12:53 PM
After emancipation, Green Jones testified that he was dragged from his home & brutally beaten by white vigilantes for daring to rent land & employ other formerly enslaved people.
The men told him "that they would not allow negroes to live off to themselves."
The men told him "that they would not allow negroes to live off to themselves."
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
After emancipation, Elizabeth Weden, who was sold away from her family in 1845, managed to locate her father, writing that "I am at this place trying to do the best I can for my self. times are harde here & money scearse. I wish to leve this place, & move out to whare you are."
Alabama Freedwoman to Her Father in Virginia, January 18, 1867; and Freedmen's Bureau Superintendent for Alexandria and Fairfax Counties, Virginia, to the Headquarters of the Freedmen's Bureau Assista...
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
After emancipation, Elizabeth Weden, who was sold away from her family in 1845, managed to locate her father, writing that "I am at this place trying to do the best I can for my self. times are harde here & money scearse. I wish to leve this place, & move out to whare you are."
After emancipation, Elizabeth Weden, who was sold away from her family in 1845, managed to locate her father, writing that "I am at this place trying to do the best I can for my self. times are harde here & money scearse. I wish to leve this place, & move out to whare you are."
Alabama Freedwoman to Her Father in Virginia, January 18, 1867; and Freedmen's Bureau Superintendent for Alexandria and Fairfax Counties, Virginia, to the Headquarters of the Freedmen's Bureau Assista...
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 11, 2025 at 12:34 PM
After emancipation, Elizabeth Weden, who was sold away from her family in 1845, managed to locate her father, writing that "I am at this place trying to do the best I can for my self. times are harde here & money scearse. I wish to leve this place, & move out to whare you are."
Formerly enslaved ppl like Richmond Body regularly had their wages stolen by white employers. He explained:
"Mr Beckwith has had all of our part of the crop attached claiming that we were owing him a very large amount– I dont' know what we can owe him for we never have received any thing."
"Mr Beckwith has had all of our part of the crop attached claiming that we were owing him a very large amount– I dont' know what we can owe him for we never have received any thing."
Alabama Freedman to the Freedmen's Bureau Subassistant Commissioner at Huntsville, Alabama, December 6, 1866
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Formerly enslaved ppl like Richmond Body regularly had their wages stolen by white employers. He explained:
"Mr Beckwith has had all of our part of the crop attached claiming that we were owing him a very large amount– I dont' know what we can owe him for we never have received any thing."
"Mr Beckwith has had all of our part of the crop attached claiming that we were owing him a very large amount– I dont' know what we can owe him for we never have received any thing."
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
After they won their freedom, formerly enslaved ppl from coastal VA staged a daring raid to rescue their loved ones from slavery. When they were cut off by white locals seeking to kill them or return them to slavery, a desperate struggle ensued.
Commander of a Black Brigade to the Commander of the District of
Eastern Virginia
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
After they won their freedom, formerly enslaved ppl from coastal VA staged a daring raid to rescue their loved ones from slavery. When they were cut off by white locals seeking to kill them or return them to slavery, a desperate struggle ensued.
After they won their freedom, formerly enslaved ppl from coastal VA staged a daring raid to rescue their loved ones from slavery. When they were cut off by white locals seeking to kill them or return them to slavery, a desperate struggle ensued.
Commander of a Black Brigade to the Commander of the District of
Eastern Virginia
www.freedmen.umd.edu
June 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
After they won their freedom, formerly enslaved ppl from coastal VA staged a daring raid to rescue their loved ones from slavery. When they were cut off by white locals seeking to kill them or return them to slavery, a desperate struggle ensued.
The Commander of the U.S.S. Dale reported a Rebel attack on a self-directed community of formerly enslaved ppl:
"At early dawn they fired a volley though the house; as the alarmed people sprang nearly naked from their beds & rushed forth frantic with fear, they were shot, arrested or knocked down."
"At early dawn they fired a volley though the house; as the alarmed people sprang nearly naked from their beds & rushed forth frantic with fear, they were shot, arrested or knocked down."
Commander of the U.S.S. Dale to the Commander of the South Atlantic Squadron, June 13, 1862
www.freedmen.umd.edu
May 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
The Commander of the U.S.S. Dale reported a Rebel attack on a self-directed community of formerly enslaved ppl:
"At early dawn they fired a volley though the house; as the alarmed people sprang nearly naked from their beds & rushed forth frantic with fear, they were shot, arrested or knocked down."
"At early dawn they fired a volley though the house; as the alarmed people sprang nearly naked from their beds & rushed forth frantic with fear, they were shot, arrested or knocked down."
Facing eviction to restore their land to former enslavers, Bayley Wyat denounced the government's orders as an affront to justice: "Our wives, our children, our husbands, has been sold over & over again to purchase the lands we now locates upon; for that reason we have a divine right to the land."
Report of a Speech by a Virginia Freedman, late December, 1866
www.freedmen.umd.edu
May 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Facing eviction to restore their land to former enslavers, Bayley Wyat denounced the government's orders as an affront to justice: "Our wives, our children, our husbands, has been sold over & over again to purchase the lands we now locates upon; for that reason we have a divine right to the land."
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
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After Maryland abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, Jane Kamper complained that her former enslaver "told me that I was free but that my Children Should be bound to [him]" & "locked my Children up so that I could not find them."
Statement of a Maryland Freedwoman, November 14, 1864
www.freedmen.umd.edu
May 21, 2025 at 11:28 PM
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Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
👇🏾
After Maryland abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, Jane Kamper complained that her former enslaver "told me that I was free but that my Children Should be bound to [him]" & "locked my Children up so that I could not find them."
Statement of a Maryland Freedwoman, November 14, 1864
www.freedmen.umd.edu
May 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
👇🏾
After Maryland abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, Jane Kamper complained that her former enslaver "told me that I was free but that my Children Should be bound to [him]" & "locked my Children up so that I could not find them."
Statement of a Maryland Freedwoman, November 14, 1864
www.freedmen.umd.edu
May 21, 2025 at 1:14 PM
After Maryland abolished slavery on November 1, 1864, Jane Kamper complained that her former enslaver "told me that I was free but that my Children Should be bound to [him]" & "locked my Children up so that I could not find them."
In June 1863, Harry McMillan testified abt his experiences in slavery in Georgia & South Carolina. Here he describes the extreme working conditions endured by enslaved people. freedmen.umd.edu/mcmilln.htm
May 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
In June 1863, Harry McMillan testified abt his experiences in slavery in Georgia & South Carolina. Here he describes the extreme working conditions endured by enslaved people. freedmen.umd.edu/mcmilln.htm
Black Corporal James Henry Gooding of the famed 54th Massachusetts wrote to President Lincoln protesting the inferior pay of Black troops: "all we lack, is a paler hue, and a better acquaintance with the Alphabet. Now Your Excellency, We have done a Soldiers Duty. Why cant we have a Soldiers pay?"
Massachusetts Black Corporal to the President, September 28, 1863
freedmen.umd.edu
May 16, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Black Corporal James Henry Gooding of the famed 54th Massachusetts wrote to President Lincoln protesting the inferior pay of Black troops: "all we lack, is a paler hue, and a better acquaintance with the Alphabet. Now Your Excellency, We have done a Soldiers Duty. Why cant we have a Soldiers pay?"
Reposted by Freedmen and Southern Society Project
Louisiana enslavers, witnessing the increasingly free movement & demands of enslaved people, complained to the Union Army that "we are in a State of anarchy."
Louisiana Planters to the Commander of the Department of the Gulf, January 14, 1863
freedmen.umd.edu
May 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Louisiana enslavers, witnessing the increasingly free movement & demands of enslaved people, complained to the Union Army that "we are in a State of anarchy."