The Most Important Item I Ever Cataloged
Card Catalog for Bill of Sale
Original card catalog for the Bill of Sale.
By Alison Bridger, Cataloging Archivist
In my 10-plus years of describing archival materials, I've encountered many interesting items. They have included letters written by civil rights workers, diaries of transcontinental trips, and cable car mechanical drawings. I learn something new every day, which puts a smile on my face. Not long ago an item crossed my desk that made me both sad and a little bit angry. It reminded me of the tragedies of American history.
The item was cataloged years ago in the old paper card catalog but had never made it to the Society's online catalog. The 3" x 5" card read:
Bill of sale of a negro girl, dated June 6, 1814, by Benjamin Bealk and Rebecca Holt to Michael Lacroix, of Louisiana.
At first, I could not bring myself to actually catalog the sale of another human being. I set the document aside, hoping for a new perspective in the morning.
When I catalog something that already comes with a description, I usually create the catalog record using that description. The old description simply referred to the sale of a "negro girl." It seemed empty, lacking the essence of the document. I knew that this bill of sale deserved more, and should not stay hidden in the stacks any longer.
I read the one-page document and learned that the girl was about seven years old and her name was Linder. I made sure to include this information in my description to give her a presence beyond an unnamed "negro girl." As I did a little research, I learned that many times a bill of sale for a slave only lists the age and gender of the person being sold. Our old catalog record actually reduced the meaning of the document. Being able to provide a first name, I hope this small addition will one day lead Linder's descendants to her.
About the North American History and Genealogy Blog
The North American History and Genealogy blog is written by staff and highlights the world class collections, recent research, acquisitions, and services available through the Wisconsin Historical Society's Library and Archives.