Wilkinson Family Papers

Résumé du livre

Plantation record book, 1867-1891, recorded by D.J. Wikinson re farming operations and cultivation of cotton, corn, watermelons, and other crops during Reconstruction and late 19th century, with entries re cotton harvests: "First picking 5 tasks cotton" (2 Sept. 1872) and family names represented include Simmons, Prioleau, Manigault, King and others; volume includes draft of letter, 15 Apr. 1878 to "Dear Bacot" in which [D.J. Wilkinson?] declines an offer to sell copies of a book, Ariel's Reply to the Rev. John A. Seiss, D.D., of Philadelphia ["Ariel" was the pen name of Buckner Harrison Payne, the author of several controversial and racist works], expressing some skepticism of the authors position but acknowledging that his discussion of miscegenation or "amalgamation" had concerned him for some time, "I would vote tomorrow to disfanchise the negro because I believe that political equality but one step removed from social equality ...," Wilkinson declined to act as an agent to sell copies of the book since he had been without a horse for more than two years, and due to the fact that the book was viewed with suspicion by many in his community, "it will take some time to make head way against the prejudice now excited against [it] ... Mother begs to be remembered to you and says ... that nothing could induce her to read Ariel's works ..."