Saturday, July 5, 2008

To Witness the Past

African American Archaeology  in Alexandria, Virginia

Excerpts from the Exhibition Catalogue

The City of Alexandria's archaeologists have studied the towns African American archaeology since 1978. This exhibit is a summary of findings from archaeological investigations of 25 free black residential sites, two slave sites, and three manufacturing sites where blacks worked.

These archaeological studies have included a great deal of research using historic documents relating to the sites, their inhabitants, and the development of African American neighborhoods in Alexandria. Although standard histories and many documents are often silent about African American lives and accomplishments, the artifacts are tangible witnesses to the past.
 
  Slavery in Alexandria
        -- The Alexandria Slave Pen
        -- A Slave Household

  African American Freedom in Alexandria
        -- The Bottoms Neighborhood
        -- The Hayti Neighborhood

  Working in Alexandria
        -- The Alfred Street Sugar House
        -- The Alexandria Pottery Tradition and the Wilkes Street Pottery
        -- The Old Dominion Glass Company

  Some Other African American Sites
        -- The Black Baptist Cemetery
        -- The Alfred Street Baptist Church
        -- Seminary Area African American Neighborhoods
         -- L'Ouverture Hospital and Contraband Barracks

You can order a copy of the complete illustrated catalogue - contact the Museum at
(703) 838-4356.  Other papers on Alexandria's African American community are also available at the Museum Shop

Alexandria Black History Museum    |   Watson Reading Room    |    Robert H. Robinson Library
African American Heritage Park    |   Museum Exhibits    |    Museum Collections    |    Education Programs
History of Museum & Related Sites    |    Self-Guided Walking Tour    |   African American History Guide
Alexandria's Black Public Education 1800-1965    |    Alexandria's Early Free Black Neighborhoods
Slave Market and Slave Jail    |   Freedmen's Cemetery    |    Oral History    |    Alexandria's Black Churches
Civil War: Fighting for Freedom    |    Civil War: Black Soldiers of the Civil War
Volunteers for Freedom, Part 1    |    Volunteers for Freedom, Part 2    |    Directions and Fees
Participate and/or Volunteer    |    Alexandria Black History main page