Virgil M. Ward letters
Content Description
This collection contains four letters from formerly enslaved Virgil M. Ward to his previous Philadelphia employer, Edward Morris Davis, referred to as "Dear Friend " in the letters. Ward was born in Virginia in 1827, and it is unknown how he escaped enslavement. He worked in Philadelphia for Davis at $15.00 per month from April 1st, 1855 to April 13th, 1857. Afterward, he moved to Ypsilanti, then Canada, and finally to Michigan. The letters are all from the year 1860. The first letter is dated October 25th, in which the main topic discussed is enslavement and the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election in October where the Republican Party defeated the Democratic candidate. In the following letters, dated between November and December, Ward asks for a return of money, which he holds to be from Davis' accounting mistakes which Ward received after successive letters.
Acquisition Type
Purchase
Provenance
Purchased 4 February 2022.
Restrictions Apply
No
Dates
- October 25, 1860 - December 16, 1860.
Creator
- Ward, Virgil Maxwell, 1827-1898 (Person)
Extent
.04 Cubic Feet (1 legal size folder)
Inventory
4 letters