As many of us know, the Civil War Era is one of the most important periods of wartime in American history. It birthed a sense of divisiveness within the United States (which was the result of opposing viewpoints on slavery and economical dependence) and created tension between the North and the South. However, it also gave way to the creation of new legislature that would ultimately impact the lives of slaves of that time as well as their descendants.  

While the violence and tragedy of the battles are well-documented in history, the culture of the slaves are not as detailed as it should be. Even though slaves were the primary impetus for the Civil War, it has become somewhat of a disturbing trend for the lives of slaves to be undermined and forgotten in the recountings of U.S. history. During the Antebellum Period, there were a great amount of slave rebellions that were formed in the South, in an effort to combat the injustices of slavery. The purpose of this collection is to document a variety of objects that represent the lives of slaves as well as recount various anti-slavery movements that occurred at the time. 

There are a variety of cultural aspects from the Antebellum Period that can be observed and their impact on modern U.S. society can be reflected upon. The items below represent the lives of slaves as well as the increasing amount of unrest and aggression in the slave revolts. We will begin with forms of literature and a portrait that depicts the lives of slaves and focus on the anti-slavery agenda, then transition into objects that were owned by slaves or masters, present belongings and portraits of known abolitionists and prominent figures in the anti-slavery movement, Nate Turner and John Brown, and finish with a book that was albeit, written after the Antebellum Era, but provides great detail into the events that lead to the erasure of slavery. 

• 12 Years A Slave- A picture of Solomon Northrup, the author of the memoir
• The American Anti-Slavery Almanac
• Uncle Tom's Cabin 
• The Boston Slave Riot and The Trial of Anthony Burns
• A Slave Whip
• A Face Vessel 
• Cowrie Shells Bracelet
• A Bible Belonging to Nat Turner
• A  Portrait of John Brown, the infamous abolitionist and leader of the Raid on Harper's Ferry.
• The Overthrow of American Slavery