Municipal Slavery

Learning from the Historical Record

The term "hidden collections" is used in the archival profession to refer to archival collections that have not been adequately described to facilitate researcher discovery and access. Sometimes collections are described with one purpose or use in mind and as a result certain histories and stories can also become "hidden." The City's Municipal Archives has long felt that records telling the story of the City's use of the system of slavery to support municipal work had become "hidden" despite these records, primarily those of the City Treasurer, having been inventoried and open for research to the public for many decades.

Municipal Slavery Research Project - Phase III

Phase III of the Municipal Slavery Research Project built off the work completed in Phase II to identify specific infrastructure and construction projects funded by the City of Savannah in which enslaved labor was used through the "hiring-out" system. During the fall of 2024, undergraduate intern Hannah Dinning, of Savannah College of Art and Design's Architectural History program, analyzed the Phase II research, selected specific projects, and then fleshed out their history through additional resources, including City Council records and historical newspapers. This phase provided us tangible projects we can point to today to discuss the valuable work of the enslaved City workforce still serving the community.

• Phase III: Connecting Enslaved Labor to City Infrastructure Projects (brochure)
• Read the final Phase III project report for a review of project methodology.

Municipal Slavery Research Project - Phase II

Phase II of the Municipal Slavery Research Project consisted of the transcription of selected cashbook entries from the City Treasurer of Savannah from 1806-1866 and the Annual Settlements book (1819-1854). The goal was to capture evidence of the use of enslaved men, women, and children by various City of Savannah departments during the antebellum period. The purpose of the project was to make existing records containing information on the topic of slavery more accessible for historians, students, and citizens, and to raise awareness of the scope of the City’s use of enslaved labor to support municipal work and functions.

Please read the Research Summary to understand the data collection and analysis methodology and how to use the project spreadsheet and reports.

• Municipal Slavery Project Phase II - Research Summary
• Transcription Spreadsheet
• Spreadsheet Report by Category
• Spreadsheet Report by Keyword

Municipal Slavery Research Project - Phase I

During the spring of 2014, graduate intern Lacy Brooks, of Armstrong Atlantic State University's Public History program, undertook an exhaustive review of records identified as most likely to help reveal this "hidden history." Her discoveries help us better understand the City's use of enslaved labor during the 1820s-1860s, and more importantly help us to start identifying some of these individuals.

• Start your discovery of the history of Savannah's Municipal Slavery by visiting the Phase I online exhibit now. 
• Read the final Phase I project report "Municipal Slavery: The City of Savannah's Ownership of Enslaved People." (PDF)