For his latest book, Nashville author Bill Carey examined every available newspaper published in Tennessee between 1791 and 1864. The task was daunting and emotionally exhausting, as Carey was focused solely on the advertisements within that were connected to slavery — sales of enslaved people, slave owners asking for assistance locating runaway slaves, rental rates offered by slave owners for short-term labor. What Runaways, Coffles and Fancy Girls: A History of Slavery in Tennessee presents isn’t just a documentary history of slavery, because behind the rather pedestrian prose of the ads are human stories: slave owners who suspected runaways were headed north to freedom or, even more poignantly, to be reunited with lost family members. They also tell stories about the pipes for the city’s first water system — some of which are still in use — being laid by enslaved people, showing that the legacy of slavery is tangible even 150 years later. As part of the Tennessee State Library and Archives’ educational outreach program, Carey will discuss the book and his research. Tickets are free, but registration is required because of limited seating and is available via the Tennessee State Library’s website. 9:30 a.m. at the Tennessee State Library, 403 Seventh Ave. N. J.R. LIND
The History of Slavery in Tennessee Feat. Bill Carey
