- Written by
- May, Joseph, Nigerian, 1817 - 1891
- Received by
- Denham, Mary, British
- Date
- 1842
- Medium
- wax and ink on wove paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (spread): 16 5/16 × 16 1/4 in. (41.4 × 41.3 cm)
- H x W (folded): 12 13/16 × 8 1/8 in. (32.5 × 20.6 cm)
- Description
- This letter was written in Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 8th, 1842 by Joseph May to a Mrs. Mary Denham in London, England. From the Wesleyan Mission House, May writes of his sea and land travels to and throughout Western Africa. He recounts the weather, the towns he preached Christianity to, having taken over a school, and his plans to establish a Methodist school. The wove paper letter has several folds in addition to its main vertical crease, and spans approximately 1500 words across three pages. A significant remnant of the original red wax seal is present in one of the many folded squares of the paper. The fourth leaf (blank) of the letter reads: [Joseph May / Sierra Leone / 20/ [?/?] / Mrs. M. Denham / Tailor / 100 Bermondsey Street / Boro. London]. A large ‘8’ is ink blotted over part of the addressee’s surname, and another large ‘8’ is written in the free space beside it.
- Transcription Center Status
- Transcription Available
- Place made
- Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Africa
- Place used
- London, England, Europe
- Classification
- Slavery and Freedom Objects
- Documents and Manuscripts
- Type
- documents
- letters (correspondence)
- Topic
- Africa
- Children
- Christianity
- Correspondence
- Education
- Men
- Methodist
- Religion
- Slavery
- Travel
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2018.46.9
- Restrictions & Rights
- No Known Copyright Restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




