Stratford Hall Symposium On Slavery

Symposium 10/4/09

2009-10-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

The most amazing thing to express today refers to the ending that is just a beginning. As the symposium has come to an end, as the personal tour and guided tour has come to an end, as the participants return to their designated homes and places of employment, one can never say this represents the end, but the beginning of ongoing research.

Having blogged daily regarding the symposium, having extended the learning through internet searches, and having made friendships that will be lasting, this weekend has proved to go beyond one's expectations. This event has now stirred in me the continued desire to gain more information regarding historical people, places, and things. The reality of exploring documented sources and beginning to identify the "un-documented and under-documented" highlights our responsibility to give a voice to the many enslaved.

I express my sincere gratitude to the symposium director and the presenters for an excellent event that has changed my life forever.

~Jeryl

Rita Wagstaff - Tour of the Great House

2009-10-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Rita Wagstaff a member of the first Stratford Hall Seminar on Slavery closed the symposium with a tour of the Great House.

Shawn Utsey, “Shockhoe Bottom, Lumpkin’s Jail, and the Negro Burial Ground.”

2009-10-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

Shawn Utsey, “Shockhoe Bottom, Lumpkin’s Jail, and the Negro Burial Ground.”

Dr. Utsey spoke about the experience with the burial ground and what can be learned from the area. One view says let’s memorialize – others want to excavate. A cultural and class issue seems to be at the root of this divide. Who will be heard?

He showed a six minute piece of his documentary “Meet Me At the Bottom” Which will premier in October 2009 in Richmond. A spirited give and take ensued after the viewing ensued.

Harriet and Dangerfield Newby in Slavery and Freedom

2009-10-04T08:09:00.000-07:00

Harriet and Dangerfield Newby in Slavery and Freedom

Phil Schwarz shared his research on Dangerfied Newby and his families.

PowerPoint at http://www.slideshare.net/stratalum/newby-harpers-ferry-schwarz-101709-final

See also:
Letters from Harriet Newby

Gangerfield & Harriet - a student reenactment

John Brown

Harper's Ferry

Migrants Against Slavery

Camille Wells “The Architecture of Slavery

2009-10-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Camille Wells lectured on “The Architecture of Slavery.” The slide show presentation on architecture focused on the space of these structures where slaves lived and worked. Slides of different structures were presented and discussed in terms of work done by these enslaved. Architectural would not be present without the work and skills of African Americans.

Civl Rights movement prompted another set of questions that lead to scholarship on the richness of culture and skills of African Americans. The African American craftsmen have authorship of the architecture.

See Also

Book on Richmond History

2009-10-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend by Scott Reynolds Nelson

Very interesting recent book of African American experience focusing on the history behind the legend of John Henry which takes place in Richmond, Charles City County, near Colonial Heights, and into the Shenandoah Mountains.

Symposium 10/3/09

2009-10-03T13:57:00.001-07:00

As the days events of the symposium continued, the information from each presenter brought a new and refreshing knowledge base to the topic regarding slavery. Dr. Moitt's account of women and the Caribbean provided an international perspective of the issue of slavery. Dr. Swann-Wright's information and discussion of oral history from Monticello confirmed a previous discussion regarding family traditions. Dr. Sanford's pictorial presentation highlighted images of archaeological digs referencing materials of slaves.

The profound discussions from my fellow seminarians has equipped me to research these and other aspects related to family tradition. My ongoing pursuit within my own family has now been fueled with additional database sites to assist me in discovery. Moreover, the information that I have learned that I plan to present to my school division should excite others to join me at the next symposium. The networking, discussion, and comparisons have been an integral part of this weekend. The anticipation of what's to come and the final days of this symposium are met with excitement as well as disappointment. I am excited to learn more and sit amongst great scholars of the field and yet I am disappointed that the weekend will soon come to an end.

Overall, this weekend has thus far been such a significant time of study and learning. The time here has truly engaged me in the teaching and learning of the issues regarding slavery.

~Jeryl

Douglas Sanford, “The Archaeology of Plantation Slavery.”

2009-10-03T13:22:00.001-07:00

Doug used images of archaeology digs to tell the complex story of enslaved people. In a question and answer session, seminarians and Doug used the images to learn about African Americans lives in slavery.

See also

Doug’s 2002 presentation
Doug’s Somewhat Dated Bibliography
African-American Archaeology at Stratford Hall Plantation, Virginia Douglas W. Sanford, Mary Washington College
The African American Experience at Stratford: 1782
Wesley Payne: Descendants of Lee plantation slave family gather

Dianne Swan Wright : Coming Before Winter: Monticello’s Oral History Project.

2009-10-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

Coming before Winter: Monticello’s Oral History Project.

Dianne Swan Wright spoke about the Getting Word Oral History Project. She and Cinder Stanton have travelled over 34,000 miles gathering oral histories of descendants of enslaved families of Monticello

She recounted the story of a women who thanked Cinder and Diane for coming before winter – which affirmed for her the importance of gathering these histories while the people still lived.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: A brief Account

2002 – Stratford Presentation

Some Personalities:

Peter Fosett

Rev Robert Hughes

Johnnie Young

Bernard Moitt – Slavery in the Caribbean

2009-10-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Bernard Moitt – Slavery in the Caribbean and United States and United States: Comparison and Contrasts.

Dr. Bernard Moitt of Virginia Commonwealth University lectured on slavery in the Caribbean, using slides to illustrate his points.

Equiano is a good work to look at – There are questions about it, but a legitimate account of how people were captured and transported. Africans had a hand in it as well. A complex business investments involving many parties. Suffering was tremendous from capture to landing. Amount of resistance was great in spite of the cruelty and great fear imposed through terror.

Caribbean served as a model for development of model – as well as the system of resistance. Sugar revolution in Barbados – 1640. Barbados mother for rest of Caribbean.

See also

Bernard’s 2002 Stratford Presentation:

Bernard Moitt. Women and Slavery in the French Antilles, 1635-1848. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001. xviii + 218 pp. Tables, maps, notes, bibliography, index. $49.95 (cloth), ISBN 0-253-21452-1.

Phil Schwarz - Gabriel's Rebellion

2009-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Phil Schwarz, Director of the Stratford Hall Plantation Seminar on Slavery, presented information on Gabriel's Rebellion

PowerPoint link at http://www.slideshare.net/stratalum/gabriel2009-stratford

The slides have links within them that can be clicked for further information.

See also

Phil’s 2002 presentation summary

Gabriel’s Challenge Slave Crimes in the late 18th century. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography - by Phil Schwarz

Stratford Presenter Doug Egerton - Gabriel's Rebellion: The Virginia Slave Conspiracies of 1800 and 1802 by Douglas R. Egerton. 260 pgs.

Twice Condemned – Phil Schwarz – excerpt on Boxley Plot

Interview Sam and Louisa Everette

2009-10-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Norrece Jones' presentation of Sam and Louisa's experience was enlightening. I felt that Louisa's choice of words were intentional for posterity. She wanted us to know, despite the slaveholders' rhetoric, about the fidelity among many African Americans as well as the family bonds.

This passage also brought to mind Frederick Douglass' comments about the life altering changes that slavery has on the human being, namely the slaveholder. The idea that he found pleasure observing Sam and Louisa in spite of their discomfort.

As Jones mentioned, these tapes are a great teaching tool for obtaining the enslaved person's perspective on slavery.

Symposium

2009-10-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

As I drove along the road that eventually reached the Lee Plantation, the experience of mixed emotions overwhelmed my thoughts. What was I to encounter? Who would be there? How many of my ancestors travelled where I am now standing?

The reality of where I was and whose footsteps that I am in created in me a humbling experience. The meeting of my fellow seminarians was as exciting as the trip here. The essence of seeking and searching was met with addresses from Phil and Noreece. WOW!! This was the only expression that my mind was able to deliver as the words, pictures, graphs, and other details related to slavery were displayed.

How fortunate am I to be here. How fortunate am I to sit and learn amongst great scholars. As I prepare to attend the reception and the dinner, I gaze outside and begin to imagine life on the plantation. The sun is setting, the chill is in the air, and the fog begins to rest among the trees. What a humbling experience this is for me.

Do I dare imagine what my ancestors did at this hour? Do I dare take comfort in this bed in this room not knowing the comfort or anxiety that may have been experienced so many years before? Do I now hold the torch of life that must be passed on to other generations?

~Jeryl K. Scott, Ed.S

Phil Schwarz - Keynote Address - Octover 2, 2009

2009-10-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Phil began the symposium with a keynote presentation that discussed the arrival of enslaved peoples and use Richmond as a historical focus. Beginning in 1619 the story of importation and it’s the effects on laws and peoples were covered in an overview of the beginning of slavery.

Slideshow at
http://www.slideshare.net/stratalum/phils-keynote-address-october-2

Norrece Jones Enslaved Families And African American Narratives

2009-10-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

Norrece Jones - October 2, 2009
Enslaved Families and African American Narratives

Spoke of his new books - Black Slaver and antislavery: Race and Freedom in the Making of America. Examines the integral role African Americans in the making of America.

Through testimony of slave narratives we learn about institution of slavery and the bonds forged. There is a discomfort involved in the discussion of slavery for African American and Whites. The testimony left is an excellent way to learn about enslaved people if used with a critical eye

There are about 6,000 narratives in existence from interviews to biographies. Most of post-bellum interviews by white male interviewers in the depression. Sometimes interviewers were descendants of masters – some descendants of the enslaved. Problematic, but still valuable when used with a critical eye.

The presentation began with the playing of audio testimony of slavery from Remembering Slavery . The radio series, produced by Smithsonian Productions and the Institute of Language and Culture and heard on http://rememberingslavery.soundprint.org/index.html

Ended with the story of Sam and Louisa Everett

"Marce Jim called me and Sam ter him and ordered Sam to pull off his shirt- that was all the McClain niggers wore- and he said to me: Nor, 'do you think you can stand this big nigger?' He had that old bull whip flung acrost his shoulder, and Lawd, that man could hit so hard! So I jes said' yassur, I guess so,' and tried to hide my face so I couldn't see Sam's nakedness, but he made me look at him anyhow."

Well he told us what we must git busy and do in his presence, and we had to do it. After that we were considered man and wife. Me and Sam was a healthy pair and had fine, big babies, so I never had another man forced on me, thank God. Sam was kind to me and I learnt to love him."

Transcript at http://everetthistory.home.mindspring.com/SlaveInterview.html

2009-10-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Seminarians on duPont balcony, October 2

Straford Hall Symposium on Slavery

2009-09-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

When:

From: Oct 2, 2009 @ 9:00 AM to Oct 4, 2009 @ 3:00 PM

Description:

Stratford Hall is hosting a three-day residential Symposium on Slavery (click link for schedule) for Virginia teachers October 2-4, 2009. VCU Professor Emeritus Philip Schwarz, who formerly headed our two-week Seminar on Slavery, is serving as symposium director.