Plantation life

Original letters, broadsides, pamphlets, printed materials and books documenting the 19th century and early 20th century political and cultural relationships between the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, Cuba, Spain, and Portugal.

This collection includes biographical information about individuals in the Ayers, Brown, McCarty, Martin, Diller, Boettner, Crump, Raynor, Ball, Freytag, and Bergeson, and families, among others. The bulk of the collection involves the life and careers of this kinship network, and their commerce, ministries, and artistic work product, and events ranging from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century. Some documentary history of the Jitney Jungle grocery chain is included.

Nicholas Bryar Massenburg, planter of Franklin County, N.C., owned Woodleaf and Egypt plantations. In this daybook, Massenburg describes weather conditions, social activities, and sales of land and equipment. Yearly lists of enslaved people, their ages and overseers are also included.