According to Foner at p,43 and later in his ”A Short History of Reconstruction”, educational initiatives for blacks in 1865-66 were one of the few successes of the Freedman Bureau, which had the help of Northern benevolent societies and “blacks themselves”. By 1870, they already had a major impact, so undoubtedly this would have aided those so educated in performing the census.
Jim McCall
On Oct 29, 2010, at 8:05 AM, Hannah Powell wrote:
> Many plantations had black overseers (Plantation record keepers). Many whites as well as blacks were illiterate. Sometimes you can see on the census a black head of household who is actually the overseer for a white master and the household is all listed black.
> Hannah Powell
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig Kilby" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 2:35 PM
> Subject: [VA-HIST] 1870 Southern Census Takers
>
>
>> There were plenty of literate and educated people of color in 1870.
>>
>> Craig
>>
>> On Oct 28, 2010, at 9:14 AM, JEFFREY D SOUTHMAYD wrote:
>>
>>> Seems unlikely since the vast majority of slaves were illiterate and
>> could neither read nor write.
>>>
>>>
>>> JDS
>>
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