Copper slave badge imprinted "Charleston No. 261 Fruiterer 1812." The badge is a contemporary counterfeit--"Fruiterer" is not a known occupation to be printed upon slave badges.
Small silver identification anklet, possibly used to mark slaves with a history of escaping. Anklet contains a lock, key, and identification tag, which is blank. Manufactured by Hiatt.
Set of iron leg shackles used in the trans-Atlantic slave trade from Africa to North America. The chains that join each cuff contain incised designs resembling ferns.
Kaolin pipe with a landscape scene molded into the bowl. The scene contains a multi-storied building with an arched entryway and flag flying. Pipe stem is broken. Origin Africa.
Copper slave badge, square in shape, reading "Charleston 20 Servant 1823." Under the date, a stamp reads "LAFA," signifying the maker, John Joseph Lafar.
Set of iron wrist shackles with two D-shaped cuffs, one containing a pin lock and the other with overlapping links. Relatively small cuffs indicate that they may have been designed for a child.
Chair made by slaves from Ridgley Plantation near Florence, South Carolina. The chair is made with mortise and tenon joints reinforced with square nails. The seat is of animal skin. Evidence that the legs of the chair have been shortened indicates that it was a slave's chair. Slaves were not permitted to sit higher than the master or his children.
Salt-glazed border tiles made from kiln-fired red clay, used to line walkways and gardens. Made by slave labor on a plantation near Hickory Hill, South Carolina. Four tiles exist in the collection, two of each shown here.
Copper slave badge, square in shape. Face is stamped "Charleston 1840 Servant 1869." 1840 is the year produced and 1869 signifies that it was the 1,869th "servant" badge sold that year.
Manilla, a type of metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency.
Manilla, a type of metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency.
Two manillas, metal currency formerly exchanged for slaves, especially in West Africa. Originally imported from Europe then later re-cast and used as a local currency. These were made in Birmingham, England.
Slave auctioneer's token, 1846. These tokens were distributed as one-cent pieces and served as advertisements for the businesses and services depicted on the coins. Face view of token reads "W.W. Wilbur Auction & Commission Merchant; Charleston, So. Ca.; Going at Only A Penny" encircling the image of an auctioneer. Obverse view of token reads "Merchants & Manufactors Agents; Collection Broker Notary Public" encircling the image of a tree.
Five dollar bill issued by the Farmers & Exchange Bank of Charleston and dated September 28, 1853. Bill depicts an African American tending to a wagon pulled by oxen. Engraved by Toppan, Carpenter, Kasilear & Company, Philadelphia and New York.
Pewter slave badge produced for a servant in Charleston, S.C. It was common to counterfeit badges to avoid paying taxes, and this particular one was not issued by the city, but created in the stamped year. The face is stamped "Charleston 1862 Servant #4." Back side contains no markings.
Patriotic Civil War token with an anti-slavery message. Face image of the token reads "Liberty and No Slavery 1863" and contains an image of Lady Liberty. Obverse image of the token, depicting crossed United States flags, a shield, a liberty cap on a pike, and a garland of laurel leaves with 13 stars.
Five dollar Confederate greenback issued on February 17, 1864 and redeemable two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America. Printed by Evans & Cogswell in Charleston, South Carolina and engraved by Keatinge & Ball of Columbia, South Carolina.
Ten dollar Confederate greenback issued on February 17, 1864 and redeemable two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States of America and the United States of America. Printed by Evans & Cogswell in Charleston, South Carolina and engraved by Keatinge & Ball of Columbia, South Carolina.
A minstrel stick puppet. Minstrel shows were a type of entertainment popular from the 1840s to as late as the 1960s that featured performers in blackface. Figure has movable parts connected by pins. The stick that is used to operate the puppet is broken off.
Three bone buttons acquired from the bodies of John Brown's raiders. The bodies were reinterred at the John Brown Farm in North Elba, New York in 1899. Mounted and framed with a caricature of John Brown.
Edison Blue Amberol recording of Fred Van Eps "Darkies Dream" and "Darkies Awakening." Patent information on top of cover reads "1910. John Young, Frederick J Wheeler." Etched into the top of the cylinder is "Thomas A. Edison Patd. 183; 1544 DARKIES DREAM & DARKIES AWAKENING VAN EPS." Bottom of cylinder is imprinted "Seeley Tube and Box Co. Newark, N.J. USA."
Peach-colored "Free Angela" pin depicting Angela Davis, political activist associated with the Black Panther Party for Self Defense that was established in 1966 in Oakland, California. Pin also reads "Free all political prisoners."
Felt blacklight posters entitled "Pantheress" and "Panther." "Pantheress" depicts an African American woman holding a rifle and handgun, wearing a necklace containing a closed fist. "Panther" depicts an African American man holding an orange rifle.
Front and back views of a metal lunchbox and thermos depicting scenes from the television show "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" which aired from 1972 to 1985.
Front and back views of a metal lunchbox and thermos depicting scenes from the television show "Welcome Back, Kotter" which aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979.
Talking J.J. doll from the television show "Good Times" which aired on CBS from 1974 to 1979. The doll speaks nine different phrases when its string is pulled.
Three untitled pastel prints by South African artist "Sipho." One print depicts women doing domestic work and the other two depict a woman holding a child.
