Abolition in the Archives: Talk & Presentation at Bowne House
With Bowne House Archivist Charlotte Jackson & Bowne House Collections Volunteer Ellen Spindler
Bowne House Archives
Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: 37-01 Bowne Street, Flushing, New York 11354
Tickets: $15 General Admission; $12 Senior Admission
(No pre-registration required. Tickets are purchased upon arrival.)
Join us for a presentation that explores Bowne House’s connection to abolition and the Underground Railroad, showcasing original documents drawn from our three-century- old collection and Revolutionary-era Quaker Meeting minutes. A tour of the landmarked 1661 Bowne House (included) sets the stage for the event.
Bowne House Archives
Archivist Charlotte Jackson will offer the audience a close-up look at some precious records preserved at Bowne House, including an 18th -century manumission certificate and a letter carried by a freedom-seeker on the Underground Railroad. Drawing upon her in-depth knowledge of their history, she will discuss how our researchers use these family papers to enrich our understanding of Black History and the Abolitionist movement in New York, attempting to fill silences and gaps in the record.
Ellen M. Spindler, Collection Volunteer, will describe her research into New York Quaker Meeting minutes from 1771-1787 that show their efforts to manumit, or legally free, the enslaved held by their members, a goal eventually reached by 1798. This includes the Quakers’ remarkably early efforts at reparations, including education and payment for past service. An audience question-and-answer period and informal discussion will follow.