John McDonogh Papers. Letters from former slaves, 1846-1849. - John McDonogh Papers. Letters from former slaves, 1846-1849.

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Title
John McDonogh Papers. Letters from former slaves, 1846-1849.
Biographical Information
John McDonogh (1779-1850) was a merchant, land speculator, plantation owner, slaveholder, and philanthropist of Baltimore and New Orleans. At his plantation near New Orleans, McDonoghville, he gave his enslaved persons religious and vocational training as well as the ability to purchase their freedom after fifteen years of work. He collaborated with the American Colonization Society to send about 80 of his freed slaves to Liberia in 1842. Born in Baltimore, Maryland to John and Elizabeth Wilkins McDonogh, he lived in New Orleans from 1800 until he died in 1850. In his will, he bequeathed the bulk of his fortune to the cities of Baltimore and New Orleans for the purpose of building public schools for poor white and freed black children.</br></br>James McGeorge Taylor (active 1844-1849) was a former enslaved person freed by John McDonogh. Taylor subsequently settled in Monrovia and later in St. Paul's River, Liberia, where he became a brick maker, farmer, and carpenter.</br></br>Washington W. McDonogh (active 1842-1849) was a former enslaved person freed by John McDonogh who subsequently resettled in Settra Kroo, Liberia. McDonogh was a missionary and oversaw a boarding school.</br></br>George R. Ellis McDonogh (active 1842-1849) was a former enslaved person freed by John McDonogh, who subsequently resettled in Monrovia, Liberia as a farmer.</br></br>Galloway Smith McDonogh (active 1842-1847) was a former enslaved person freed by John McDonogh, who subsequently resettled in Sinoe, Liberia and later returned to the United States to trade goods.
Date Created
1846 - 1849
Location
Description
Letters written by John McDonogh's former slaves describing their settlements in Liberia. The most frequent correspondents are George R. Ellis McDonogh, Washington W. McDonogh, Galloway Smith McDonogh, and James McGeorge Taylor. Other writers are John Aiken, Julia Smith, Simon Jackson, Nancy Ann Sm[ith?], Phillis Watts, and Henrietta Fuller. The letters include details about their assimilation with the Kroo people, requests for more seed and financial assistance, praise of Africa for the freedom and equality found there, news of a visit from R. R. Gurley of the American Colonization Society, updates about a boarding school at Nana Kroo, and reports of inhabitants' unwillingness to relocate to Sinoe.
Type of Resource
text
Size
19 items.
Language
English
Source
Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, La., http://larc.tulane.edu/
Digital Collection
Revealing an Unknown Past: Free People of Color in Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi Valley
Repository Collection
John McDonogh Papers, Manuscripts Collection 30, Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University.
Shelf Location
Manuscripts Collection 30, Boxes 12 and 13
Contact Information
To inquire about ordering copies of these images, email larc@tulane.edu.
Rights
Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright of the original material is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws. Permission to reproduce this image must be requested through the repository that holds the original.
Preferred Citation
John McDonogh Papers, Manuscripts Collection 30, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.
Related Collections
John McDonogh Papers, RG 13, Louisiana State Museum Historical Center.; Nicholas Bauer Collection, RG 243, Louisiana State Museum Historical Center.; Burruss Family Papers, Manuscripts Collection 105, Louisiana Research Collection, Tulane University.
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