Jun 02 2013

Image of the Day: Peonage Case Affidavit

Peonage Case, Pat Hill Affadavit, 5/12/1903 - National Archives

Peonage Case, Pat Hill Affadavit, 5/12/1903 – National Archives

“After the Civil War, a form of slavery continued through a system of peonage, a form of involuntary servitude. Thousands of African Americans were arrested for fabricated crimes and forced to work off exorbitant fines. Pat Hill was a victim of this reenslavement––bound, beaten, and forced to work. The affidavit is his formal sworn statement of fact.”

See the second page of the affidavit here.

Jun 01 2013

Prison Architecture #3

Continuing the series, here’s another vintage postcard of a prison from my collection…

Libby Prison

Libby Prison (Richmond Virginia)