"A small lot of land…"
With this agreement, Wm. G. Brounlory, special agent of the Treasury Department, leased a small lot of land to L.J. Coker. The Freedmen’s Bureau was responsible...
Accepting a long-overdue honor
William H. Carney acknowledges receipt of the Medal of Honor in this letter to the chief of the Records and Pensions Office. He finally received the medal in May...
Agricultural labor
After the Civil War, many African Americans in the South were sharecroppers where the farmer received a portion of the crops as payment from the landlord.
Appeal to the President
In this letter, Cpl. James H. Gooding complained to President Abraham Lincoln about the unequal pay situation. He argued that the men of the 54th Massachusetts did...
Applying for land
Former slaves could apply to lease abandoned or confiscated land held by the Federal Government. After President Andrew Johnson began to pardon former Confederates,...
Arrest report of Rosa Parks
In 1955, a 42-year-old seamstress touched off a 381-day boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system when she was arrested for failing to yield her seat to a white...
Art of farming
James Cunningham, at age 11, entered into this indenture agreement with Alexander Cunningham to be his apprentice to learn the art of farming. The Freedmen's Bureau...