Slavery and Emancipation: Federal Document Sources from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia
Our Records
Federal records document the history of American slavery and freedom from the founding period of our federal government in the late eighteenth-century through the modern Civil Rights era. In particular, records of the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Customs Service, and the Freedmen's Bureau yield fascinating insights into this difficult topic.
In this collection of resources, the National Archives regional offices in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have made available numerous documents for public and educational use. Topics include the slave trade, fugitive slaves, court cases, and civil rights. For example, slave manifests document American engagement in the slave trade, while court cases cover topics such as fugitive slaves and segregation. We hope these resources help to tell the story of American slavery and freedom.
