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On view March 29 through December 31, 2025

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Knowledge Makes A Man Unfit to be a slave. Frederick Douglas

John “Quash” Williams     Dudley C. Jones      Richmond Pugsley (1870)     Festus (177)     Adam (1856)     Cesar Chelor (c.1720–1784)     Robert Duncanson (c.1821–1872)      Joe (1784)      Gincy Enslaved Sisters Owen (1761)      Tobias Scot (1827–1904)      Apollo (1773)      Peter Bentzon (c.1783–1850)      Creasy James (1819)      Augustus Washington (c.1820–1875)      Eliza Paris (1772)      Moses Williams (1777-c.1825)      Gershom Prince (1733–1778)      John Hemmings (1776–1833)      Isaac (1838)      John Gough (1763–1791)      Thomas Commeraw (c.1771–1823)      Richard “Dick” Poyner (1802–1882)      Dutreuil Barjon (c.1799–1856)      Lewis Buckner (1856–1924)      Thomas Day (c.1801–1861)      Lucy (1859)      Unidentified Iron Worker Lucius Jordan (1816–1880)      Hirum Wilson (1836–1884)      York (1777)      Abraham Spencer (c.1806–1873)      Dave Drake (act. 1805–d. 1870)      Thomas Gross, Jr.      (1775–1839)      Ann Hanlin (1870)      Mary (1762)      Henry O. Tanner (1859–1937)      Edward M. Bannister (1828–1901)      Absalom (1843) Pomey (1839)      Shack (1835)      Festus (1774)      Prosper (1769)      Toney (1767)      Abraham (1766)      London (1777)      Cupid (1756)      Moses Carthus (1870)      Aaron Bolton (1870)      Prince (1739)      Green A. King (1870)      Mingo (1768)      Alberty Somerville (1870)      Burrell Hodge (1870)      Arthur (1841)      York (1777)      Harry (1778)      David (1859)      Joe (1861)      Peter (1773)      Morris (1828)      Lucinda Radcliff (1870)      Absom Corris (1870)      John (1820)      William Jones (1870)      Cyrus (1769)      Charles Marlin (1870)      Jerry Bowman (1870)      John Strong (1870)      Big Sally Charles Brown (1870)      Jachne (1771) Cuffie (1775)      Kouli-Kan (1767)      Jenny (1777)      Unnamed Needleworker (1742)      Leander (1857)      Edmonia Lewis (c.1843–after 1909)     Gracey Ned Catherine Footer (1870)     Madeline Love     (1870)     Lizzie Van Stoy (1870)     Frances Ewing (1870)     Annie Jackson (1870)     Kate Woodfolk (1870)    John “Quash” Williams     Dudley C. Jones      Richmond Pugsley (1870)     Festus (177)     Adam (1856)     Cesar Chelor (c.1720–1784)     Robert Duncanson (c.1821–1872)      Joe (1784)      Gincy Enslaved Sisters Owen (1761)      Tobias Scot (1827–1904)      Apollo (1773)      Peter Bentzon (c.1783–1850)      Creasy James (1819)      Augustus Washington (c.1820–1875)      Eliza Paris (1772)      Moses Williams (1777-c.1825)      Gershom Prince (1733–1778)      John Hemmings (1776–1833)      Isaac (1838)      John Gough (1763–1791)      Thomas Commeraw (c.1771–1823)      Richard “Dick” Poyner (1802–1882)      Dutreuil Barjon (c.1799–1856)      Lewis Buckner (1856–1924)      Thomas Day (c.1801–1861)      Lucy (1859)      Unidentified Iron Worker Lucius Jordan (1816–1880)      Hirum Wilson (1836–1884)      York (1777)      Abraham Spencer (c.1806–1873)      Dave Drake (act. 1805–d. 1870)      Thomas Gross, Jr.      (1775–1839)      Ann Hanlin (1870)      Mary (1762)      Henry O. Tanner (1859–1937)      Edward M. Bannister (1828–1901)      Absalom (1843) Pomey (1839)      Shack (1835)      Festus (1774)      Prosper (1769)      Toney (1767)      Abraham (1766)      London (1777)      Cupid (1756)      Moses Carthus (1870)      Aaron Bolton (1870)      Prince (1739)      Green A. King (1870)      Mingo (1768)      Alberty Somerville (1870)      Burrell Hodge (1870)      Arthur (1841)      York (1777)      Harry (1778)      David (1859)      Joe (1861)      Peter (1773)      Morris (1828)      Lucinda Radcliff (1870)      Absom Corris (1870)      John (1820)      William Jones (1870)      Cyrus (1769)      Charles Marlin (1870)      Jerry Bowman (1870)      John Strong (1870)      Big Sally Charles Brown (1870)      Jachne (1771) Cuffie (1775)      Kouli-Kan (1767)      Jenny (1777)      Unnamed Needleworker (1742)      Leander (1857)      Edmonia Lewis (c.1843–after 1909)     Gracey Ned Catherine Footer (1870)     Madeline Love     (1870)     Lizzie Van Stoy (1870)     Frances Ewing (1870)     Annie Jackson (1870)     Kate Woodfolk (1870)    John “Quash” Williams     Dudley C. Jones      Richmond Pugsley (1870)     Festus (177)     Adam (1856)     Cesar Chelor (c.1720–1784)     Robert Duncanson (c.1821–1872)      Joe (1784)      Gincy Enslaved Sisters Owen (1761)      Tobias Scot (1827–1904)      Apollo (1773)      Peter Bentzon (c.1783–1850)      Creasy James (1819)      Augustus Washington (c.1820–1875)      Eliza Paris (1772)      Moses Williams (1777-c.1825)      Gershom Prince (1733–1778)      John Hemmings (1776–1833)      Isaac (1838)      John Gough (1763–1791)      Thomas Commeraw (c.1771–1823)      Richard “Dick” Poyner (1802–1882)      Dutreuil Barjon (c.1799–1856)      Lewis Buckner (1856–1924)      Thomas Day (c.1801–1861)      Lucy (1859)      Unidentified Iron Worker Lucius Jordan (1816–1880)      Hirum Wilson (1836–1884)      York (1777)      Abraham Spencer (c.1806–1873)      Dave Drake (act. 1805–d. 1870)      Thomas Gross, Jr.      (1775–1839)      Ann Hanlin (1870)      Mary (1762)      Henry O. Tanner (1859–1937)      Edward M. Bannister (1828–1901)      Absalom (1843) Pomey (1839)      Shack (1835)      Festus (1774)      Prosper (1769)      Toney (1767)      Abraham (1766)      London (1777)      Cupid (1756)      Moses Carthus (1870)      Aaron Bolton (1870)      Prince (1739)      Green A. King (1870)      Mingo (1768)      Alberty Somerville (1870)      Burrell Hodge (1870)      Arthur (1841)      York (1777)      Harry (1778)      David (1859)      Joe (1861)      Peter (1773)      Morris (1828)      Lucinda Radcliff (1870)      Absom Corris (1870)      John (1820)      William Jones (1870)      Cyrus (1769)      Charles Marlin (1870)      Jerry Bowman (1870)      John Strong (1870)      Big Sally Charles Brown (1870)      Jachne (1771) Cuffie (1775)      Kouli-Kan (1767)      Jenny (1777)      Unnamed Needleworker (1742)      Leander (1857)      Edmonia Lewis (c.1843–after 1909)     Gracey Ned Catherine Footer (1870)     Madeline Love     (1870)     Lizzie Van Stoy (1870)     Frances Ewing (1870)     Annie Jackson (1870)     Kate Woodfolk (1870)    John “Quash” Williams     Dudley C. Jones      Richmond Pugsley (1870)     Festus (177)     Adam (1856)     Cesar Chelor (c.1720–1784)     Robert Duncanson (c.1821–1872)      Joe (1784)      Gincy Enslaved Sisters Owen (1761)      Tobias Scot (1827–1904)      Apollo (1773)      Peter Bentzon (c.1783–1850)      Creasy James (1819)      Augustus Washington (c.1820–1875)      Eliza Paris (1772)      Moses Williams (1777-c.1825)      Gershom Prince (1733–1778)      John Hemmings (1776–1833)      Isaac (1838)      John Gough (1763–1791)      Thomas Commeraw (c.1771–1823)      Richard “Dick” Poyner (1802–1882)      Dutreuil Barjon (c.1799–1856)      Lewis Buckner (1856–1924)      Thomas Day (c.1801–1861)      Lucy (1859)      Unidentified Iron Worker Lucius Jordan (1816–1880)      Hirum Wilson (1836–1884)      York (1777)      Abraham Spencer (c.1806–1873)      Dave Drake (act. 1805–d. 1870)      Thomas Gross, Jr.      (1775–1839)      Ann Hanlin (1870)      Mary (1762)      Henry O. Tanner (1859–1937)      Edward M. Bannister (1828–1901)      Absalom (1843) Pomey (1839)      Shack (1835)      Festus (1774)      Prosper (1769)      Toney (1767)      Abraham (1766)      London (1777)      Cupid (1756)      Moses Carthus (1870)      Aaron Bolton (1870)      Prince (1739)      Green A. King (1870)      Mingo (1768)      Alberty Somerville (1870)      Burrell Hodge (1870)      Arthur (1841)      York (1777)      Harry (1778)      David (1859)      Joe (1861)      Peter (1773)      Morris (1828)      Lucinda Radcliff (1870)      Absom Corris (1870)      John (1820)      William Jones (1870)      Cyrus (1769)      Charles Marlin (1870)      Jerry Bowman (1870)      John Strong (1870)      Big Sally Charles Brown (1870)      Jachne (1771) Cuffie (1775)      Kouli-Kan (1767)      Jenny (1777)      Unnamed Needleworker (1742)      Leander (1857)      Edmonia Lewis (c.1843–after 1909)     Gracey Ned Catherine Footer (1870)     Madeline Love     (1870)     Lizzie Van Stoy (1870)     Frances Ewing (1870)     Annie Jackson (1870)     Kate Woodfolk (1870)

Exhibition

Introduction

The objects in this exhibition seek to embrace the story of all of those who fought to make this country free by centering on the lives and experiences of Black craftspeople and artisans from the eve of the Revolutionary War to the Civil War and beyond.

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Moments

Mastery

Mastery

The objects here range from the elaborate to the utilitarian, showcasing the depth of skills mastered.

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Introduction

Contradictions

Contradictions

The objects here represent the work of enslaved craftspeople who heard their enslavers call for liberty, yet received no liberty in their lifetimes.

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Mastery

Pride

Pride

The objects here represent artistic mastery, human energy, imagination, and craft. They inspire us to to see the beauty and feel pride in the artistry of Black makers.

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Contradictions

Sojourn

Sojourn

The objects in this section represent Black craftspeople who freely traveled in search of more and those forced to travel from their homes. Some searched for peace, freedom, and liberty, while others searched for a place they could call their own.

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Pride

Identity

Identity

The objects in this section identify who people are and how they were seen. They speak to the craftsperson’s need to tell their own story and showcase their individuality through their work.

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Sojourn

Moments

Moments

Each of these moments prompts us to consider how we connect across time and geography to those who lived in the past and who make our present possible.

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Identity

Introduction

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