1861 | Photograph
Construction corps at work on the Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg Railroad.
March 1, 1867 | Document
A Freedmen's Bureau travel voucher for 107 adults and 16 children (under 12) - "destitute freedpeople" traveling from Charlotte, North Carolina to Plaquemines, Louisiana. Generally, when large numbers of freedpeople travelled, it was under the terms of a labor contract.
1867 | Document
An accounting of Freedmen's Bureau-sponsored travel on the Virginia Central Railroad during the first half of 1867. Many emancipated African Americans traveled American railroads to old and new homes in the wake of the Civil War - the Freemen's Burueau paid for much of the travel.
1864 | Photograph
May 1, 1863 | Government report
Major Erasmus L. Wentz, supervising work on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, testifies as to the quality of contraband labor over that of Irish workers. Wentz notes that the contrabands work for less pay.
1861 | Photograph
A Matthew Brady image of the slave pen of Price, Birch & Co., Alexandria, Virginia.
December 31, 1869 | Legal decision
Catharine Brown's attorneys deposed two white men who were on the train with Brown and witnessed her expulsion from the cars in Alexandria. Both lived in Maine and were deposed in December 1869. Seth Beedy was traveling with Benjamin Hinds, who knew and recognized "Kate" Brown. Beedy testified, "she was ejected by violence and that alone."
1861 | Photograph
A Matthew Brady image of the roundhouse at Alexandria, Virginia during the Civil War.
1864 | Letter
Passes for African American railroad employees requested of W. J. Stevens, Superintendent of the Military Railroad, Nashville.
1861 | Photograph
July 25, 1864 | Photograph
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This carpenter's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that William Rice spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that S. H. Hall spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that R. Young spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This carpenter's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that R. A. Saye spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that Peter Weeks spent helping to repair rail cars and engines and details the compensation he received in Knoxvile, Tennessee.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This packer's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that P. Farley spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that M. O'Hara spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This packer's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that M. Murphy spent working at various "general" tasks and details the compensation he received at Knoxville, Tennessee.
August 31, 1865 | Payroll
This machinist's payroll from August, 1865 lists the time—in days—that L. Maguire spent working on various engines and details the compensation he received.