National Museum of African American History and Culture

A leather-bound ledger entitled, “African Correspondence” owned by William Allen. The ledger contains handwritten copies of letter written and received by Allen as well as other documents copied by Allen. The leather is in poor condition, with the spine almost completely detached and very fragmentary. The cover has numerous areas of loss and damage. There is a dark red label at the top of the spin

A pamphlet copy, black print on paper, of "Coalition Rule in Danville," a published letter commonly referred to as "The Danville Circular." The letter is addressed to "the Citizens of the Southwest and Valley of Virginia," and signed in type by 28 businessmen of Danville. The document makes general complaints of the presence of African Americans in local politics; the dominance of the local Readju

This document is an agreement between John Rouzee and John Hirshaw regarding the hire of the enslaved woman Nelly and her children. One side contains Rouzee's letter to Hirshaw requesting they be returned well clothed and stating that Hirshaw will be paid four (4) dollars, which is the balance he is owed for moving the enslaved persons to Culpeper. Rouzee's message is dated December 22, 1810 from

H x W x D (framed): 11 5/8 × 9 3/16 × 1/4 in. (29.5 × 23.4 × 0.6 cm)

H x W: 5 3/4 x 7 15/16 in. (14.6 x 20.2 cm)

A packet of photocopied pages of a correspondence between Henrietta Bell Wells (author) to Alma (recipient), answering her questions. The pages are white with black text, totaling 18 pages (16 handwritten, 2 typed). The back of the pages are blank. The beginning of the letter reads [Dear Alma, / I received your letter yesterday with your list / of questions regarding my experiences in the South /

A partially printed, two-page document, from Governor Oliver Wolcott Jr. of Connecticut to Governor John Andrew Shulze of Pennsylvania. In it, Wolcott Jr. and Connecticut Secretary of State Thomas Day inform Shulze that the Connecticut General Assembly has voted to reject a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States and asks Shulze to inform the Pennsylvania legislature. The amend

Form letter for the 1943 National Baptist Convention in Chicago. The card has black printed text on a tan background. The title in bold at the top reads [Headquarters of the National Baptist Convention – Womans [sic] / Auxiliary – National Laymen’s Dept. and Youth Council]. The location information is listed below this [Held in the UNITED STATES ARMORY, 35th and Giles Avenue – OLIVET BAPTIST / CHU

A letter written by Frederick Douglass to the Honorable J.A.J. Creswell on Freedmen's Savings Bank letterhead. The letterhead is pre-printed at top center in decorative black font and reads [Principal Office / of the / Freedman's Savings / and / Trust Company, / Washington, D.C., July 3, 1874]. The paper is off-white and lined in faint blue. The rest of the letter is handwritten in black ink. It i

A letter written by Apphia Rouzee to Mr. Evan Brown in care of William Noel stating "you must hire out all the negros to the best advantage for this yeare and send by him all the cash you have received." The letter is dated January 1, 1802. On the reverse, in a different hand, is a note dated January 2, 1802 recording a payment of one hundred and twenty four (124) pounds and two (2) pence received

This handwritten one page, double-sided document is a business letter written to a Mrs. Wintonne. It appears to pertain to the procurement of whips, a bonnet and other personal effects from Baltimore. It appears that the writer was the agent in charge of obtaining these items. In the letter the writer explains that certain things were unable to be purchased, chiefly the bonnet. The letter is signe

Form letter from Carl Murphy to Rev. Volley Stokes. The paper has a letterhead for [AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS] which lists the different newspaper branches and the executive offices in Baltimore. The letter text begins [My dear Friend: / We are in the midst of the most important legislative campaign in the history of Baltimore.] There is a request for […participation as a member of a Bipartisan Cit