Beyond Saying Their Name

Beyond Saying Their Names: A Hallowed Grounds Project (BHM 2020)

In celebration of Black History Month 2020, Hilary N. Green, associate professor in UA Department of Gender and Race Studies, devised a social media campaign (Twitter and Facebook) highlighting some of the enslaved individuals who labored at the University of Alabama. Inspired by a Georgetown University initiative, the digital flyers showcased her archival research that began in January 2015.

Specific collections used include: Early Administrative Records, Faculty Minutes, Basil Manly Diaries, Landon Garland Letterbooks, the Corollas (UA yearbooks), and two UA paid subscriptions (Ancestry.com and Newspapers.com). In other words, all readily accessible archival collections contained at the University of Alabama.

Why does Black History Month still matter in 2020? Woodson's original charge of countering the historical propaganda promoted against people of African descent persists as evidenced by the tenor of 1619 Project debates. Woodson, W. E. B. Du Bois, A.A. Taylor, Mertze Tate, Lerone Bennett, Jr., John Hope Franklin, Barbara Fields, Nicole Hannah Jones, and others have responded since the inception of Negro History Week (1926); however, the work remains unfinished and critical. Education remains essential. Being present remains a must. Speaking truth to power remains necessary. As generations of scholars, educators, and journalists have argued– Black history is American history.

The history and unacknowledged contributions of these enslaved men, women, and children deserve recognition over the 29 days and beyond. This, too, is UA’s history. This history remains important in the ongoing campus conversations over how to reconcile its slave past and complicated racial legacy.

Social media hashtags used for this campaign as well as other Black History Month events, activities, and efforts:
#slaveryua
#BlackHistoryMonth

Digital Flyers

The following gallery contains all digital flyers developed for the Black History Month 2020 campaign. A pdf compilation of month-long campaign is available.

Historic photograph of the Gorgas House with the silhouette of enslaved man in the background. Text reads: Ben labored around the first building and the burgeoning campus under construction. The lack of adequate shelter meant Ben would receive regular medical care from Drs. Drish, Griffin, and Davenport between 1828 and 1830.

Historic photograph of Tuomey Hall in background. Text reads: Assisting Prof. Michael Tuomey, Moses collected geological specimens and performed other general labor during the 1852 state geological survey.

Historic photograph of Maxwell Hall in background. Text reads: In the early 1840s, this enslaved master carpenter constructed the framework of the dome in the expanded observatory (present day Maxwell Hall).

Historic photograph of Maxwell Hall in the background. Text reads: In the early 1840s, this carpenter mounted the circle at the expanded observatory (present day Maxwell Hall).

Historic photograph of Maxwell Hall in the background. Text reads: In the early 1840s, Johnson did some brickwork at the Observatory (present day Maxwell Hall).

Historic postcard of President's Mansion in the background. Text reads: On April 10, 1838, Mary and her son William “Boysey,”14 months, arrives at the University. The 21-year old mother traveled from Charleston, SC to Tuscaloosa via Mobile, AL.

Historic drawing of antebellum campus in background. Text reads: Hired out from Mrs. Eliza Perkins, Anderson performed assorted duties around Franklin, Jefferson and Washington Halls during the 1843 annual contract year.

Historic 1859 photograph of campus in background. Text reads: “Jere” rebelled by educating himself in the library of Judge Washington Moody and on campus. As recalled by a descendant in the 1950s, the future educator conducted his first school underneath a tree.

Historic photograph of Gorgas House with a silhouette of enslaved man in background. Text reads: In April 1860, Andy, Schooler, and Pierce cut and hauled wood for use by the Proctor.

Historic photograph of Tuomey Hall in the background. Text reads: Over 6 ½ days in December 1860, this enslaved master carpenter laid a wood floor in Prof. Michael Tuomey’s study.

Historic drawing of the antebellum campus in the background. Text reads: York, Wash, Lewis, and Dan are hired for the 1863 year (January 1-December 24). Each receive food and clothing. Dan receives a two-week leave to visit his wife during the summer leave. UA pays their enslaver $525 CSA dollars.

Architectural drawing in the background. Text reads: Before a hired midwife arrived, Lydia delivered a daughter on Halloween 1846. She named her Serena.

Historic postcard of President's Mansion in background. Text reads: Mary mourned the death of her son, William “Boysey.” She received a funeral sermon in the President’s Mansion before tending to his interment in the University burial ground.

Architectural drawing of slave cabin in background. Text reads: On January 15, 1842, Sabra, an enslaved cook, gave birth to a daughter. She named her Julia.

Archival document in the background. Text reads: Per request of Governor Bagby, Sam arrives at the University on March 11, 1839. His tenure will be noteworthy.

Archival document in the background. Text reads: Sam rebelled. The faculty considered his sale on February 18, 1850. Placed in a slave trader’s coffle, Sam showed remorse and remained at the University for another year.

Archival document in the background. Text reads: Sam rebelled yet again. By striking another enslaved campus laborer, the Faculty unanimously agreed upon his sale on February 17, 1851.

Archival document in background. Text reads: The faculty held a special meeting and accepted Mr. Connerly’s offer. For his numerous acts of resistance, UA faculty sold Sam for $800 or roughly $26,698 in 2020 USD on February 18, 1851.

Architectural map of President Mansion and slave cabins in the background. Text reads: On January 11, 1842, President Manly received five servants for labor at the President’s Mansion from his father in law. They are Jack (aged 51 years), Molly (aged 49 years), Lydia (aged 21 years), Ben (aged 13 years), and Hetty, Lydia’s young daughter (aged 14 months).

Close up of the slave cemetery fence in the background. Text reads: On May 5 1843, Jack succumbed to “bilious pneumonia.” The faithful Methodist Church member was buried in the University burial grounds.

Architectural HABS survey in the background. Text reads: Owned directly by President Manly, Sabra prepared meals and worked around the Kitchens and adjacent Well/Washroom behind the campus President's Mansion.

Archival bill of sale in the background. Text reads: UA purchased Moses for $700 or roughly $23,668 in 2020 dollars on January 3, 1845. At twenty-eight years, he was described as being of good physical and mental health upon his arrival to campus to become “a slave for life.”

Historic bill of sale in background. Text below reads: UA purchased Isaac for $1300 or roughly $43,385 is 2020 dollars on December 5, 1853. At twenty-five years, he was described as being of good physical and mental health upon his arrival to campus.

Historic photograph of Maxwell Hall. Text reads: On May 18, 1846, the master carpenter completed minor repairs around campus while training another apprentice.

Historic postcard of the Little Round House/Guardhouse in the background. Text below reads: While cadets vacationed, Neal and Gabe secured a 30-day pass to visit family in Mobile and Montgomery on June 15, 1863.

Historic postcard of the Little Round House/Guardhouse in the background. Text below reads: On September 3, 1864, Crawford officially replaces Neal in the University Drum Corps. He will leave Mobile and arrive shortly thereafter.

Historic postcard of the Little Round House/Guardhouse in the background: Text below reads: On April 3, 1865, Gabe and Crawford alerted cadets by performing the “long slow drum roll.” They marched into the archival void when Garland and cadets retreated from campus.

Advertisement featured. Text below reads: After emancipation, Dan (now Daniel Spencer) opened an ice cream and confectionary business. The entrepreneur sold his confections to the UA campus community every afternoon. He even advertised in the yearbook.

Image of elderly black man surrounded by male and female teachers. Text below reads: On February 20, 1910, Jeremiah Barnes (formerly known as Jere) invited and hosted Booker T. Washington in his only Tuscaloosa appearance. With UA President Abercombie in attendance, Barnes embodied the phrase – “bottom rail on top.”

Beyond Saying Their Names: A Hallowed Grounds Project (BHM 2020)

Digital Flyers

Suggested Readings