In a message dated 8/7/04 10:07:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > When we toured St. John's church, I learned they had a school for black > children on the property in the antebellum period, and I am curious about > it. Mary Blackford also taught slaves to read and write, and also expresses her fears about having too many students and thence attract attention.... I'm sure the Mary B. stories I could tell would get tedious. She's a cousin and so she fascinates me. So yes, being related makes me particularly interested in her. In addition, I also learned the trade of nineteenth century printing, and I also had to learn many details of the complexity of the institution of slavery when I processed court records and when I described material for VIrginia Historical's _Guide to African-American Manuscripts in the Collections of the Virginia Historical Society_. Oops! there I go rambling again! Good luck, and keep us posted as to how the story goes! Holly To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html