Prints, illustrations and ads are great assets when researching. They provide visual examples of how people lived, what they bought and how it was used. Oral histories and interviews with the people who experienced past events are invaluable and can help to make something from the past feel much closer to home. Below you can see some of the images and read portions of the interviews conducted with the Works Progress Administration that helped to influence the construction of the South Yard dwellings at Montpelier.
The formerly enslaved individuals interviewed by the WPA resided in either Maryland or Virginia. You will notice that their experiences of slavery range on a spectrum- from food and clothing insecurities to ample time off and gifts. It should be remembered that although some may have experienced less severe enslavement, that these humans were still the property of another.
Explore excerpts of WPA interviews by topic, below.
Photos of formerly enslaved persons courtesy of The Library of Congress.
Furniture & Housing
“I slept on a home-made bed or bunk, while my mother and sister slept in a bed made by father on which they had a mattress made by themselves and filled with straw, while dad slept on a bench beside the bed and that he used in the day as a work bench, mending shoes for the slaves and others.”14 “Richard Macks, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)-Richard Macks, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“I slept in the mistress’ room in a bed that we pushed under the mistress’ in the day or after I arose.”24 “Annie Young Henson, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.) -Annie Young Henson, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“[Master gave] us huts to live in. [The] beds [were] made of long boards [that were] nailed to [the] wall. [The] mattress [was] stuffed [with] straw and pine tags. [The] only light we had [was] from [the] fire-place. We didn’t use [any] matches, [instead] we’d [strike] a rock on a piece of steel. We’d let the sparks fall on some cotton.”31 “Interview of Mrs. Georgina Giwbs, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.)– Mrs. Georgina Giwbs, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“I [slept] in my mistress’s room but I [didn’t sleep] in any bed. Nosir! I [slept] on a carpet, an old rug, [before] the [fireplace].”42 “Autobiography of Elizabeth Sparks,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.) -Elizabeth Sparks,1936, former enslaved person
Food & Cooking
“Mother was the cook at the Howard House; she was permitted to keep me with her. When I could remember things, I remember eating out of the skillets, pots and pans, after she had fried chicken, game or baked in them, always leaving something for me.”–58 “Tom Randall,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.) Tom Randall, 1936
“On Saturday each slave was given 10 pounds corn meal, a quart of black strap, 6 pounds of fat back, 3 pounds of flour and vegetables, all of which were raised on the farm. All of the slaves hunted or those who wanted, hunted rabbits, opossums or fished. These were our choice food as we did not get anything special from the overseer.”67 “Rev. Silas Jackson, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)– Rev. Silas Jackson, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“My choice food was fish and crabs cooked in all styles by mother. You have asked about gardens, yes, some slaves had small garden patches which they worked by moonlight.”76 “James V. Deane, ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)-James V. Deane, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“Mammy used [to] bake ash-cakes; [they were] made [with] meal, [with] a little salt and mixed [with] water; [then] mammy would rake up [the] ashes in [the] fire-place; [then] she would make up [the] meal in round cakes, and put [them] on [the] hot bricks [to] bake; [when they had] cooked [around the] edges, she would put ashes on [the] top [of them,’ and [when they were] nice and brown she took [them] ot and washed [them] off [with] water.”85 “Susan Kelly and Simon Stokes,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.)– Susan Kelly and Simon Stokes, 1936
Clothing
“The white folks made our clothes for us. They made linsey for the wom[e]n and woolen cloth for [the] men. They gave clothes sufficient to keep [them] warm. The men had wool clothes with brass buttons that had shanks on [them] They looked good when they were new. They had better clothes then most of us have now.”912 “Phillip Johnson,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)– Phillip Johnson, 1936
“In summer the slaves went without shoes and wore three-quarter checkered baggy pants, some wearing only a long shirt to cover their body. We wore ox-hide shoes, much too large. In winter time the shoes were stuffed with paper to keep out the cold. We called them ‘Program’ shoes. We had no money to spend, in fact did not know the value of money.”1011 “Dennis Simms, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)-Dennis Simms, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“As for clothes, we all wore home-made clothes, the material woven on the looms in the clothes house. In the winter we had woolen clothes and in summer our clothes were made from cast-off clothes and Kentucky jeans. Our shoes were brogans with brass tips. On Sunday we fed the stock, after which we did what we wanted.”119 “James V. Deane, ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)-James V. Deane, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“I remember well when I was taken to Annapolis, how I used to dance in the stores for men and women, they would give me pennies and three cent pieces, all of which was given to me by the Revells. They bought me shoes and clothes with the money collected.”1210 “James Wiggins, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 8, Maryland, Brooks-Williams. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn080/. (Accessed March 17, 2017.)– James Wiggins, 1936, formerly enslaved person
Work
“She [used to] make my aunt Caroline knit all day [and] when she [got] so tired [after] dark that she’d [get] sleepy, she’d make [her stand] up an[d] knit. She work[ed] her so hard that she’d go to sleep standin[g] up an[d] every time her [head nodded] an[d] her knees [sagged], the lady’d come down across her [head] with a switch.”1316 “Autobiography of Elizabeth Sparks,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.)– Elizabeth Sparks, 1936
“[At the age of five] Now he went to his task daily; from early in the morning until late in the evening. The long toilsome days completely exhausted the youngster. Often he would fall asleep before reaching home, and spend a good portion of the night on the bare ground. Awakening, he would find it quite a problem to locate his home in the darkness of night.”1415 “History of Ex-slave and Civil War Veteran [Charles Grandy],” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.)– Charles Grandy, 1936, formerly enslaved person and Civil War Veteran
“We had a washing house. [There were] five women who [did the] washing an[d] ironing. [They] had to make [the] soap. [That was] done by letting water drip over oak asses. Dis made oak ash lye, and [this was] used in making soap. After [the] clothes had soaked in [this] lye-soap and water, [they] put [the] clothes on tables and beat [them until they were] white.”1513 “Interview of Mrs. Georgina Giwbs, Ex-slave,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.)-Georgina Giwbs, 1936, formerly enslaved person
“[My] mommer, she [worked] in [the quarter] kitchen. She [didn’t have to work hard like] some. Had it [kind of] easy, too. [Just like I told you I always] had my way. [I got what I wanted and if they didn’t give it to] me, [I just took] it.”1614 “Interview of Mrs. Candis Goodwin,” Federal Writers’ Project: Slave Narrative Project, Vol. 17, Virginia, Berry-Wilson. 1936. Manuscript/Mixed Material. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/mesn170/. (Accessed March 20, 2017.) – Mrs. Candis Goodwin, 1936, formerly enslaved person, daughter of the plantation owner
Explore More
Introduction to the South Yard
Through the reconstruction, furnishing, and interpretation of the South Yard buildings, Montpelier is sharing a more complete history of the Madison legacy and the place that nurtured the American Constitution as well as the horrendous system of slavery.
The South Yard: The Taylor and Stewart Families
Like the buildings they lived and worked in, we do not know everything about the 300 people who were enslaved at Montpelier. As slaves, they were viewed by those who held the power and made the records, as property, not equals. However, we do know some things about a few.
The South Yard: Household Items
As an enslaved person living in the South Yard at Montpelier, some of your personal tools would have been used to support your family’s daily needs as well as the demands of your owners. Others would have been yours, alone.
The South Yard: Food & Cooking
Much has been written about the food prepared and consumed by enslaved African Americans. From what was provided by the plantation owners, to what was grown or hunted by the individual; from how it was cooked to the social events surrounding eating.
Written By
Teresa Teixeira
Former Curator of Collections at James Madison's Montpelier
The above content was researched and written by Teresa Teixeira in 2017.
It was adapted for Montpelier’s Digital Doorway by Leanna Schafer in 2020.
Leanna Schafer, BA
Curatorial & Collections Assistant
Leanna joined the Curatorial & Collections Department at Montpelier in 2018 as a Museum Technician. She values the histories and stories told by objects and works to preserve those objects for generations to come.