- Printed by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Beard, J. A., English, born 1806
- Beard, J. A. and May, American
- General Bailey, William Henry, American, 1804 - 1878
- President Jefferson, Thomas, American, 1743 - 1826
- Stark, Theodore O., American, born 1820
- Date
- 1855
- Medium
- ink on paper
- Dimensions
- H x W: 13 3/4 x 8 3/8 in. (34.9 x 21.3 cm)
- Description
- A single-sheet broadside printed in black ink on wood pulp paper. The broadside is an announcement for a slave auction that took place on January 29, 1855 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Written at the top of the broadside in bold lettering is [56 VERY CHOICE / Cotton Plantation SLAVES, / MECHANICS, / SEAMSTRESSES, COOKS, &C.] Between two bold parallel lines printed in smaller lettering is [By J. A. BEARD & MAY. J. A. Beard, Auctioneer]. Below the bottom line printed in the same size font is [WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION, / ON MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1855, / At 12 o’Clock, at Banks’ Arcade, / WITHOUT RESERVE, / The following list of choice and Valuable SLAVES, from the Plantation of Gen. W. BAILEY, / Lake Providence, La., viz:]. Printed below this are the names, ages and skills of the enslaved people being auctioned. Skills and occupations listed include cotton picker, ox driver, slave driver, seamstress, ironer, carpenter, cooper, cotton gin hand, midwife, and field hand. There are fifty-six people listed in two columns, organized by family units with ten families total listed.
- The enslaved persons to be auctioned are listed as follows:
- One Family:
- Big Henry, 21
- Amy, 18
- Little Henry, 16
- One Family:
- Boston, 26
- Little Milly, 19
- Family
- Stephen, 24
- Big Fanny, 24
- Writ Henry, 20 mo.
- One Family:
- Caswell, 30
- Aggy, 30
- Fayette Henry, 5
- Stanhope McLanhan, 2
- One Family:
- Big Jim, 25
- Ann Randolph, 22
- One Family:
- George, 26
- Little Fanny, 23
- Roderick Dhu, 4
- One Family:
- Peter, 47
- Harriet, 22
- Thomas Jefferson, 3
- One Family:
- Jack, 50
- Dolly, 21
- ______
- Nelson, 28
- Jorden, 19
- Addison, 18
- Sam, 18
- Washington, 16
- Dick, 20
- Charles, 19
- John, 23
- One Family
- Edward, 19
- Margaret, 18
- Jenny Lind, 2
- Unidentified infant, 3 mo.
- Big William, 20
- Jim Henry, 20
- Hoyt, 12
- William Nelson, 14
- One Family:
- Jessee, 20
- Caroline, 17
- ______
- Amanda, 18
- Mary Pate, 18
- Yellow Mary, 18
- Dinah, 45
- Phillis, 20
- Nancy, 17
- Mary Caswell, 12
- Suckey, 12
- Betsy, 11
- Sally, 11
- Nelly, 52
- Jane, 18
- Beneath the listing of enslaved persons is printed text with the terms of sale, followed by a handwrittten inscription reading [Monday, Jany 29, 1855 Very Cold / Tuesday " 30 " " "].
- Place used
- New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States, North and Central America
- Type
- broadsides
- Topic
- Agriculture
- American South
- Black Enterprise
- Building Arts
- Children
- Commerce
- Cooking and dining
- Cotton
- Domestic slave trade
- Families
- Health
- Labor
- Medicine
- Men
- Midwifery
- Skilled labor
- U.S. History, 1815-1861
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2009.9.7
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.