The Problem of Slavery in Vermont 1777-1810 is the subject of a talk to be presented on Tuesday, May 6, 7:00pm, at the new Brattleboro Historical Society History Center located in the Masonic Center building, 196 Main Street.
The speaker will be Harvey Amani Whitfield, an associate professor of history at the University of Vermont and author of a book by this title published recently by the Vermont Historical Society. The program is co-sponsored by Brattleboro Historical Society and Vermont Historical Society with support from the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation.
Vermonters have long been rightly proud that our state was the first to outlaw slavery in its Constitution of 1777.
Textbooks and scholars routinely highlight Vermont’s landmark act as evidence of the absence of slavery in our state. But is this what really happened? Professor Whitfield has done extensive research which demonstrates that the enslavement of people in various guises persisted in Vermont for at least another 30 years. An example of the evidence is found in census figures which in 1791 showed 58 Afro Americans living in Windham County, including 10 in the household of a Henry Cole in Brattleboro. Why did a household in Brattleboro include 10 Afro Americans? In the 1800 census there were no longer any Afro Americans listed in the Henry Cole household What happened to the black people? This question and other issues relating to slavery in early Vermont will be part of his talk and the discussion to be led of Professor Whitfield.
The program is free and open to the public. Brattleboro History Center is handicap accessible through the door at the rear of the Masonic Center. For information 802-254-8398
