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Episodes from "Rise and Fall of the Slave South," University of Virginia (Fall 2007): 1 through 10 of 152

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  1. Fashion of the South
    date October 12, 1878map HENRICO, Virginiatags Arts/Leisure, Women

    The image of the southern lady in the post-Civil War period was of the utmost importance. A woman's image described her lifestyle and stature. It was through image that personal wealth was shown. When the Richmond Standard newspaper wrote an article critiquing the new fashions of the fall, it helped the southern woman perfect her look. The article first described the stock available in two boutiques...

  2. An Incident of Charity
    date December, 1881map ROCKBRIDGE, Virginiatags Church/Religious-Activity

    M. Rowan Barclay, carrier of the Lexington Gazette, printed a special broadside in 1881 to the subscribers of his newspaper, urging them to realize the true meaning of Christmas. His broadside was a poem titled "An Incident of Christmas Eve" and told the story of an old woman who was unable to cross the street. Several passersby overlooked her until Barclay introduced a group of rowdy schoolboys....

  3. The People of Appomattox County
    date June 30, 1850map APPOMATTOX, Virginiatags Agriculture, Economy, Race-Relations

    The 1850 census of Appomattox County revealed the social order of this western Virginia county and determined that although most Virginians were proponents of slavery, very few residents of Appomattox County actually owned slaves. Compiled by Stuart McD. Farrar, the census polled residents of the county on June 30, 1850 and organized the data by household. Each household was numbered and every...

  4. Farm for Sale
    date May 16, 1856map KING WILLIAM, Virginiatags Agriculture, Economy

    On May 16, 1856, John Cooke posted an advertisement in the Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser to sell his farm in King William County, Virginia. His farm was a desirable property, as it lay alongside the Mattapony River, only one mile from the county court house. Cooke stressed the fact that along this steamboats river ran straight to Norfolk, Virginia, optimal for farmers who wanted to move grain....

  5. Southern Marriage
    date August 22, 1811map HENRICO, Virginiatags Urban-Life/Boosterism, Women

    Benjamin Rawlings prepared eagerly for his wedding day. His brother James, concerned for Benjamin's future, wrote to him to give some pre-marital advice. In the early nineteenth century south, young marriage was encouraged. James, though a bachelor, spoke highly of marrying young, as a friend once told him, "temper and habits of the young are not come so still and uncomplying as when more advanced...

  6. Defeated at Last: The End of the Third Seminole War
    date May 1, 1856map ALACHUA, Floridatags Native-Americans, Race-Relations, War

    The ongoing Seminole Wars between the Seminole Indians and the U.S. army began in November 1817. According to an issue of the New York Herald, the U.S. army and the Seminoles renewed this guerilla-style conflict in May of 1856, marking the Third Seminole War. Billy Bowlegs led the Seminoles in this Third War, but did not enjoy much success against the U.S. troops. In the article, reports depict that...

  7. The Beginning of the End of the Confederate States of America
    date April 7, 1865map ORLEANS, Louisianatags Government, Politics, War

    On Friday, April 7, 1865, the words "Confederacy Doomed" marked the headlines of the New Orleans Daily Times Picayune. As the headline so boldly announced, the days of the Confederacy were severely numbered as General Robert E. Lee was forced to abandon Goldsboro, NC and proved unable to hold the city of Raleigh. In reality, of course, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia remained in Virginia, but was...

  8. Texans Begin to Encourage the Spread of the Peculiar Institution
    date August 25, 1861map HARRIS, Texastags African-Americans, Agriculture, Slavery

    "My brother John D. Andrews of Houston, Texas, requests me to say to the people of Va, that he would like to exchange lands in Texas for Negroes," was the opening line of an August 25, 1861 sale notice drafted by Samuel Andrews of behalf of his brother, John Andrews, who resided in Houston, Texas. In the ad, Andrews discussed his willingness to negotiate with Virginians who wished to "send their...

  9. A New Colony in Western Virginia
    date April 21, 1857 to 1868map WAYNE, Virginiatags Economy, Migration/Transportation

    On April 21, 1857, The New York Herald wrote, "we are now seriously inclined to believe that the project set in motion by Hon. Eli Thayer for the free white recolonization of Old Virginia has revived the agitation of a great question which will never be stopped until the old State is revolutionized, repopulated, and restored to something of her ancient glory in the Union." Indeed, Eli...

  10. The Runaway Daniel
    date May 2, 1856map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Law, Race-Relations, Slavery

    On Friday, May 2, 1856, an ad was put out in the Daily National Intelligencer from a subscriber living near Upper Marlboro', Prince George's county (Md), offered a 100 reward for the return of a "run away." On the "4th of April, Negro boy Daniel" ran away from his master to, the master believed, Washington City. Daniel's master, J. Berry, understood that "he is hired in Washington City by his free...

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