This is the original estate appraisal, the primary slavery document used in Freedom Over Me. It served as the basis for the story Bryan creates, giving life to each of the characters. The names of nine of the slaves in the book—Peggy, Charlotte, Stephen, Mulvina, Jane, Athelia, Qush, Bacus, and Betty—are found on this document. The remaining names, Dora and John, were given by Bryan to unnamed children mentioned in the appraisal.
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Title of collection item
“At An Appraisement Held at the House of Mrs. Fairchilds . . .”
Leaf/page/opening info
Pen and ink on paper
Date info
July 5, 1828
Version/translation/format/more date info
Reproduced in Freedom Over Me (New York: Atheneum, 2016)
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Credit
Ashley Bryan Archive, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
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single page
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Fairchild estate appraisal document
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4
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