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Preferred Citation

Freedmen's Bureau Journal, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased, June 2005

Scope and Contents

Diary of an unidentified employee of the Freedmen's Bureau, who was working near Norfolk and Fort Monroe, Virginia, from October 9, 1865-November 29, 1865.

A few highlights from the diary include the following: On October 13th, the writer is writing from the Tyler House at Fortress Monroe, Virginia. He describes his ocean voyage and areas that he visits, including Norfolk and Fort Monroe, giving his opinions on some topics. His job is teaching three classes at the Butler School. He is one of a number of teachers teaching over 800 students. Talks of his teaching experiences. He visits Slabtown, "a village of some 1500 Freedmen" and describes the area. He gives his opinions on the difficulty of the black population to learn how to live after being slaves, gives examples of how happy people are to be free and praises them for their efforts and achievements. He goes to church and preaches at church meetings, describes how the black congregants worship with movement and noise, visits a hospital ward at Camp Hamilton, Hampton and Newport News.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans--Education--Virginia
• Fort Monroe (Va.)--History
• Freedmen--Virginia--History
• Norfolk (Va.)--History--19th century
• United States.. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands