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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Slave story of D. Davis, ninty [sic] years old

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.
Personal interview, M.N. McCullough, 2581 St. Johns Ave., Jacksonville, Florida

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.
Additional information, Frank Berry

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.
Frank Berry: slave interview, August 18, 1936 [and] Sept. 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.
Mary Biddis:

Mary Biddis and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida

Federal Writers' Project interview with Mary Biddis.
Mary Mimus Biddie [sic], slave, age 105

Mary Mimus Biddis, J.M. 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 J.M. Johnson.
Neil Coker: Grandin, Florida slave interview

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.
marine in ebony: [slave interview,] Tampa, Florida, 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.
Douglas Dorsey: 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, focuisng on his years spent as a slave in Suwannee County, Florida. Interviewed by James Johnson, field worker.
Ambrose Douglass: slave interview, Brooksville

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.
Ocoee riot

Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida

WPA produced synopsis of the Ocoee election day riot that ocurred on Nov. 2, 1920, when African Americans were attacked as they attempted to vote in the presidential election.
Reminiscences of old Aunt Sarah, a former slave of Grandmother's: slave interview, Tampa

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.
Samson Forrester: [slave interview]

Samson Forrester, Jules A Frost, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida

Federal Writers' Project interview with Samson Forrester, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Tampa and his captivity during the Seminole War. Interview conducted by Jules A. Frost.
Folklore stories from ex-slave: "Mama Duck."

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.
Haints: [slave interview,] Tampa, Florida, Oct. 20, 1937

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.
Clayborn Gantling: 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.
Kate Golden: ex-slave, 84 years old, now living at Orlando, Florida

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.
Charles Griffin: ex-slave, 100 year old, now living at Orlando, Florida

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 at a slave Virginia.
Bolden Hall: slave interview, August 20, 1936

Bolden Hall, Alfred Farrell, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida

Federal Writers' Project interview with Bolden Hall, focusing on his years as a slave in Walkino, Florida. Interviewed by Alfred Farrell, field worker.
Folklore stories from ex-slaves: interview with Victoria Harris...New Smyrna, Florida, 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.
Stephen Harvell: slave interview, Tampa

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.
Stephen Harkville, ex-slave: [slave interview,] Tampa, Florida, 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.
Rev. Squires Jackson: 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.
Acie Thomas: slave interview, November 25, 1936

Acie Thomas, Pearl Randolph, and Federal Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration for the State of Florida

Federal Writers' Project interview with Acie Thomas, focusing on his years spent as a slave in Jefferson County, Florida. Interviewed by Pearl Randolph.
Willis Williams: 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.