Narratives of Formerly Enslaved Floridians
These compelling interviews with former slaves were recorded by the Works Progress Administration Federal Writers' Project from 1936-1938. The Library of Congress assembled these documents which they described as including "informant's family education, income, occupation, political views, religion and mores, medical needs, diet and miscellaneous observations." These 40 interviews documented by field workers in the Florida unit, represented one of 17 participating states in a federal initiative that produced a total of over 2,000 interviews. The narratives provide students an opportunity to experience history at a personal level through the words of African Americans who spent their childhood and teenage years as the property of their owner, deprived of personal liberty and familial connection, and often physically abused. The collection is presented with the permission and cooperation of the Florida Historical Society, owner of the original documents.
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Interview, M.N. McCullough and Rose Shepherd, December 13, 1938
M. N. McCullough, Rose Shepherd, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with M.N. McCullough on Florida and Georgia folklore; interview conducted by Rose Shepherd on Dec. 13, 1938.
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![Interview, D. Davis and Paul Diggs, Slave story of D. Davis, Ninty [sic] Years Old, October 28, 1938 by D. Davis, Paul Diggs, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida](https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/formerly_enslaved_narratives/1027/thumbnail.jpg "Interview, D. Davis and Paul Diggs, Slave story of D. Davis, Ninty [sic] Years Old, October 28, 1938 by D. Davis, Paul Diggs, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida")
Interview, D. Davis and Paul Diggs, Slave story of D. Davis, Ninty [sic] Years Old, October 28, 1938
D. Davis, Paul Diggs, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with D. Davis, focusing on his years spent as a slave near Quitman, Georgia and his later years in Brooksville, Florida. Interviewed by Paul Diggs.
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Interview, Haints and Jules A. Frost, Slave Interview, October 20, 1937
Haints, Jules A. Frost, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
WPA interview with an unidentified African American woman, focusing on her years spent as a slave in Florida.
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Interview, Frank Berry and Pearl Randolph, Slave Interview and Additional Information, August 18, 1936 and September 11, 1937
Frank Berry, Pearl Randolph, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Frank Berry, focusing on his years as a slave in Alachua County as well as his later government service. Interviewed by Pearl Randolph, field worker.
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Interview, Frank Berry and Samuel Johnson, Slave Interview Additional Information, September 11, 1937
Frank Berry, Samuel Johnson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Frank Berry, focusing on the Reconstruction era.
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Interview, Rev. Squires Jackson and Samuel Johnson, Slave Interview, September 11, 1937
Squires Jackson, Samuel Johnson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Rev. Squires Jackson, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Madison, Florida. Interviewed by Samuel Johnson.
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Interview, Victoria Harris and Zelia Sweett, Stories of Ex-Slaves, August 17, 1937
Victoria Harris, Zelia Sweet, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Victoria Harris, focusing on her years spent as a slave in Baldwin County, Georgia and her later years in Florida. Interviewed by Zelia Sweet.
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Interview, Dave and Jules A. Frost, A Marine in Ebony, July 9, 1937
Dave, Jules A. Frost, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project essay based on an interview with Uncle Dave, focusing on his years spent as a slave near Key West, Florida and his later life in Ybor City. Interview conducted and essay written by Jules A. Frost on July 9, 1937.
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Interview, Stephen Harville and Jules A. Frost, Stephen Harville, Ex-slave, July 8, 1937
Stephen Harville, Jules A. Frost, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Stephen Harville, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Alachua County, Florida. Interviewed by Jules A. Frost.
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Folklore Stories from Ex-slave, "Mama Duck," May 19, 1937
Jules A. Frost and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with "Mama Duck," focusing on her years spent as a slave near Richmond, Virginia, and her later life in Tampa, Florida. Interviewed by Jules A. Frost.
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Interview, Charles Griffin, Ex-Slave 100 Years Old Now Living in Orlando, Florida, May 18, 1937
Charles Griffin and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Charles Griffin, focusing on his years spent in Virginia.
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Interview, Kate Golden, Ex-Slave, 84 Years Old Now Living at Orlando, Florida, May 18, 1937
Kate Golden and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Kate Golden, focusing on her years spent as a slave near Makinson, Georgia. Interviewed on May 18, 1937.
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Interview, Theodore Lesley III and B.F. Borchardt, Stephen Harvell Slave Interview, May 17, 1937
Stephen Harville, B. F. Borchardt, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Stephen Harville, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Alachua County, Florida. Interview conducted by B.F. Forchardt just before the WPA Federal Writers Project and submitted for inclusion in the WPA American guide. A letter detailing the interview is appended to the interview transcript, mentioning a later WPA-sponsored interview with Harville.
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Interview, Clayborn Gantling and Rachel Austin, Slave Interview, April 16, 1937
Clayborn Gantling, Rachel Austin, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Clayborn Gantling, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Terrell County, Georgia and Lake Park, Florida.
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Interview, Willis Williams and Viola B. Muse, Slave Interview, March 20, 1937
Willis Williams, Viola B. Muse, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Willis Williams, focusing on his years as a slave near Tallahassee, Florida. Interview conducted by Viola B. Muse, field worker.
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Interview, Douglas Dorsey and James Johnson, Slave Interview, January 11, 1937
Douglas Dorsey, James Johnson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Douglas Dorsey, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Suwannee County, Florida. Interviewed by James Johnson, field worker.
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Interview, Ambrose Douglass and Martin D. Richardson, Slave Interview Brooksville, circa 1937
Ambrose Douglass, Martin D. Richardson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Ambrose Douglass; interview conducted by field worker Martin D. Richardson.
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Interview, Mary Biddis, circa 1937
Mary Biddis and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Mary Biddis.
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Interview, Mary Mimus Biddis and James Johnson, Slave Interview, circa 1937
Mary Biddis, James Johnson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Mary Mimus Biddis (spelled "Biddie" throughout the typescript), focusing on her years spent as a slave near Pensacola, Florida. Interviewed by James Johnson.
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Interview, Neil Coker and Martin D. Richardson, Slave Interview, circa 1937
Neil Coker, Martin D. Richardson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Neil Coker, a former slave in the Grandin, Florida area.
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Interview, Reminiscences of Old Aunt Sarah, A Former Slave of Grandmother's, circa 1937
Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Aunt Sarah, focusing on her years spent as a slave in Ybor City. Interview possibly conducted by B.F. Borchardt.
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Ocoee Riot, circa 1937
Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
WPA produced synopsis of the Ocoee election day riot that occurred on Nov. 2, 1920, when African Americans were attacked as they attempted to vote in the presidential election.
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Interview, Patience Campbell and James Johnson, Slave Interview, December 15, 1936
Patience Campbell, James W. Johnson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Patience Campbell, focusing on her years spent as a slave near Marianna, Florida. Interviewed by James Johnson, field worker.
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Interview, Shack Thomas and Martin Richardson, Centenarian, December 8, 1936
Shack Thomas, Martin Richardson, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Shack Thomas, focusing on his years spent as a slave on a plantation near Tallahassee. Interviewed by Martin Richardson.
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Interview, Edward Lycurgas and Pearl Randolph, Slave Interview, December 5, 1936
Edward Lycurgas, Pearl Randolph, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida
Federal Writers' Project interview with Edward Lycurgas, conducted by Pearl Randolph, field worker.
