Written by
Jacobs, Harriet Ann, American, 1813 - 1897
Edited by
Child, Lydia Maria, American, 1802 - 1880
Published by
Child, Lydia Maria, American, 1802 - 1880
Date
1861
Medium
ink on paper; cardboard and leather
Dimensions
H x W (Closed): 7 3/4 × 5 1/2 in. (19.7 × 14 cm)
H x W (Open): 10 1/4 × 5 1/2 in. (26 × 14 cm)
Description
A rebound American first edition of Harriet A. Jacob’s “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Written by Herself.” The book’s front and back cover has a marbled design of beige, black, and white. The spine binding is black leather with gilt lettering [Incidents / Slave Girl / Harriet Jacobs / 1861] and five raised bands. The book begins with a preface by the author signed in letterpress "Linda Brent," the pseudonym of Harriet Jacobs. Jacobs provides a vivid account of being an enslaved woman, from girlhood to adulthood, including the constant exposure to sexual predators and risk of sexual assault, the heartache and joys of motherhood, and the desperation for freedom. The second blank interior page has an inscription that indicates the book belonged to a Mrs. G.W. Groson (illegible). The book is 306 pages.
Place printed
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Books and Published Materials
Movement
Anti-slavery movements
Type
narratives
Topic
Antislavery
Families
Freedom
Fugitive enslaved
Gender
Identity
Literature
Motherhood
Self-liberation
Sexual abuse
Slavery
U.S. History, 1815-1861
U.S. History, Civil War, 1861-1865
Violence
Women
Youth
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2015.97.6
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd51b134135-79f6-45b5-af3e-a2dd56a31801

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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