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
>> 
>> ______________________________________
>> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
>> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html 
> 
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html