Most historical explorations of the past take a top down approach often focusing on the experiences of those individuals belonging to the upper strata of society. This problem is complicit to the lack of understanding and myths around the experiences of enslaved people and slavery. It is true that affluent members of society were more […]
Methodology: Genealogy and Archives Read More »
Red River County’s geographic location on the southern banks of the Red River in the northeast corner of Texas meant that for enslaved people, freedom existed beyond a single border. Crossing that border might mean moving into slavery, as it did for Eli Terry, or for some, like George, Wash, and Dan, crossing that boundary
Methodology: Mapping Movement Read More »
Experiential learning is a dynamic pedagogical approach for exploring complicated topics such as slavery. This approach involves having a concrete experience related to the topic, and developing reflective observation skills about the experience. More specifically, students develop abstract conceptualization abilities while engaging in opportunities to do active experimentation. Merging experiential learning with public history methodologies—including
In the study of slavery, historical sources offering the most valuable information include population census, slave schedules, property records, court proceedings, and personal family archives. In most cases, these records were created to document the activities and interests of white slave owners, and reduced enslaved people into objects that could be bought and sold. It
Methodology: Voices in Print Read More »
