We've found a few stories of local Black history for you to explore! These have all been collected and written up by Nancy Leek, a local librarian, historian, and author. In fact you can find her latest book, Alvin Coffey: The Life of an African-American Forty-Niner, on display at the Main Campus Library. These links are just a few of the fascinating stories of California history found at her blog, goldfields.
An unknown Black man working as a miner. California State Library.
The Sweet Vengeance Mine: a group of African American miners got together and called their claim Sweet Vengeance.
Ida Taylor was kept as a slave, herding sheep in the mountains, apparently as late as 1869 or '70. How did that happen?
George Washington Dennis was brought as a slave from New Orleans by a group of slave dealers and gamblers. He earned money to buy his freedom (from his own father) by sweeping the floors of the gambling hall they ran, and keeping the coins and gold that fell from the tables.
Moses Rodgers was brought to California when he was just 14. By “great effort, close study and application” he not only freed himself, but gained an education as a mining engineer.
Phoebe Colburn was born into slavery in Alabama, and how she arrived in California and gained her freedom is not known. She purchased a house in Shasta, and proceeded to make herself a fortune as a businesswoman.
Lucy gained her freedom in 1851, but her former holder's son tried to claim that she was a runaway. Did he succeed?
A young man named Frank became the legal case that led to the enactment of the California Fugitive Slave Act of 1852. (Read to find out more about that!)
The Perkins Case was the first test of this Act. Three men -- Carter Perkins, Robert Perkins, and Sandy Jones -- were promised, and given, their freedom after six months of mining work, but they were not given papers. Despite the help of prominent California lawyers, they were imprisoned and taken aboard a ship bound for Mississippi. But did they stay on that ship?
Stephen Spencer Hill was doing well at mining, but was arrested when a man claimed that he was a runaway. Under the California Fugitive Slave Act, he was given into this man's custody, but escaped...his fate unknown.
George worked as a vaquero on Rancho Chico.
Did slavery exist in Butte County? Good question -- click to find out.
The Reverend Mr. Obadiah Summers, head of Chico's AME Church in 1885, went on to administer the church for the entire state of California.