| |
Robert
and Sarah Smith Papers
Blair-Caldwell
African American Research Library
Denver Public Library
2003
| Provenance: |
The collection was donated to
the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library by Edna and John Mosley. |
| Ownership: |
Literary and copyrights have been assigned
to the Denver Public Library. |
| Call Number: |
MS-ARL85 |
| Size: |
1 box (0.25 linear feet) |
| Processed By: |
Tammi E. Haddad |
| Date: |
March 2003 |
Biographical Information
| Scope and Content | Container
Listing
Biographical Information
Robert (1799 - ?) and Sarah Smith (1799 - 1889) were born into slavery on the same plantation, owned by a man named Page, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1810, the Smiths owner died and they were hired out as house servants for the next twenty years. As chattel property belonging to Page's daughter, she opted to sell the slaves. The husband of Page's daughter took Robert and Sarah Smith to Alexandria and sold each to a different master. Despite being separated, Robert and Sarah continued to visit. They married in 1822.
In 1830, Robert purchased his freedom. In 1834, Sarah and their son, Jack, were freed. Subsequently, the Smith family (Robert, Sarah, and Jack) reunited. In 1835, the Smiths became the first colored family in the city of Piqua, Ohio, where Robert opened a barbershop. In 1843, the couple joined the Baptist church and helped charter the Calvary Baptist Church.
back to the top
Scope and Content
The Robert and Sarah Smith Papers (1834 - 2002) include personal correspondence, emancipation papers, travel documents, a petition to stay in Virginia and obituaries. This collection includes the emancipation papers of Robert Smith and the note promising emancipation for Sarah and Jack Smith. Also included is the petition filed by the white friends of Robert and Sarah Smith that enabled the freed family to remain in Virginia.
back to the top
Container Listing
|
Box 1 |
FF1 |
Deed of Emancipation for Robert Smith. From
Robert Raker[?] |
03/12/1834 |
| Box 1 |
FF2 |
Note promising emancipation for Robert Smith's family from John Armfield
|
11/05/1834
|
| Box 1 |
FF3 |
Travel document allowing Robert Smith to take his family
to the court house.
John Armfield (owner of Sarah and Jack Smith), Fairfax County,
Virginia |
11/01/1834 |
| Box 1 |
FF4 |
Petition to stay in Virginia as free blacks |
03/30/1835 |
| Box 1 |
FF5 |
Envelope showing manumitting papers of Sarah
Smith, Jackson Smith, and Adaline Carter |
11/1835 |
| |
|
Note for Sally Smith, Jackson and Addeline [sic?] |
ca. 1835 |
| |
|
Photographs: Robert and Sarah Smith |
undated |
| Box 1 |
FF6 |
Travel document issued by Piqua, Ohio citizens entreating
safe passage for Robert Smith on his journey back to Virginia |
06/27/1841 |
| Box 1 |
FF7 |
Correspondence to Robert Smith from C.W. Smith
Fort Caswell, North Carolina |
10/01/1865 |
| Box 1 |
FF8 |
Obituaries for Mrs. Robert Smith |
circa 1889 |
| Box 1 |
FF9 |
Correspondence to Robert Smith from his sister,
Sarah G[?].R. Berry |
03/05/1906 |
| Box 1 |
FF10 |
Photographs of the collection (44 items) |
circa 2002 |
back to the top
|
|
