The Lantern Project is a collaborative project led by Mississippi State University as part of a coalition of institutions located within Mississippi and Alabama, including the University of Mississippi Libraries (Oxford, MS); Delta State University (Cleveland, MS); The Natchez Historical Foundation (Natchez, MS); Columbus-Lowndes County Public Library System (Columbus, MS); and the Montgomery County Archives (Montgomery, AL). The Lantern Project provides, for the first time, centralized and institutionally supported access to information in legal records documenting enslaved persons, including probate records, court records (orphans court, civil court, criminal court, and others), deeds, receipts, bills of sale, and other documents which were or could have been used as evidence in a trial, from across Mississippi and the Deep South.
The materials contributed by University of Mississippi Libraries are drawn from court records and personal and family papers held in multiple collections. Documents represented include wills and other legal instruments used to transfer personal property; receipts, bills of sale; plantation ledgers, and other plantation records. Geographic areas represented include Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
These collections have been donated to the UM Libraries in support of teaching and research and document the lives and businesses of early residents of Mississippi and other locations in the Deep South. To donate personal and family papers, or records of antebellum businesses and organizations which document the lives of enslaved persons to the University of Mississippi, please contact archivesdept@olemiss.edu.
The Lantern Project has been generously funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) of the United States National Archives and Records Administration. The complete collection is hosted in Mississippi State University's institutional repository.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person named Pharisee
May 9, 185?. Bill of sale for purchase of an enslaved girl named Pharisee by William Thompson, document partially torn.
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Deed of Transfer of 6 Enslaved Persons Named Pate, Addison, Eliza, Letta, Willie, and Letta's unnamed child
Thomas N. Wendel
Deed of transfer of 6 enslaved persons named Pate, Addison, Eliza, Letta, Willie, and Letta's unnamed child
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William C. Nelson to Maria C. Nelson (14 July 1861)
William Cowper Nelson
Enslaved persons in camp; pay; debts; standing guard; need of a "camp rug"; seeing a meteor; resignation of Lieut Jones; mentions people in camp from Holly Springs
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William C. Nelson to Maria C. Nelson (25 June 1861)
William Cowper Nelson
Sending a letter by Willie Crump; probability of a fight as the federals have been reinforcing Fort Pickens; increased guard duty; large inspections; requests clothing be sent to him; writing from Col. Walters tent
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Roxana Chapin Gerdine to Emily McKinstry Chapin (1860 April 2)
Roxana Chapin Gerdine
Roxana writes about a possible visit north but continues to worry about bringing an enslaved person with her. She also notes the birth of a daughter to Mrs. Cobb
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Lewis
George Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Lewis to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Sam
George Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Sam to George H. Moseley and [I.] A. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Martin
George H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named Martin to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Mariah
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Mariah to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of 5 Enslaved Persons; each side of document lists different names
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of 5 enslaved persons named either Caroline, Margaret, Jim, Henry, and Molly, or Emelino, Margeret, Lewis, Franny, and Martha
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Mary
Charles Mitchell
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Mary
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Charlotte
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Charlotte to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Simon
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Simon to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Steve
Duval Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Steve
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Gim
Mitchell Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Gim
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Lucy
Mitchell Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Lucy
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Ren
Mitchell Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Ren
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![Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Mary and [Alfred] by S. H. Plant](https://egrove.olemiss.edu/lanternproject/1073/thumbnail.jpg "Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Mary and [Alfred] by S. H. Plant")
Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Mary and [Alfred]
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Mary and her three-year-old son, [Alfred]
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Bill of Sale of 4 Enslaved Persons Named Milly, Jim, Ann, and Ned
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of 4 enslaved persons named Milly, Jim, Ann, and Ned
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named George
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named George
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Georgean
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Georgean
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Willis
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named Willis
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Names Bill
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of an enslaved man named Bill
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Register of enslaved persons
Elliscliffe Plantation
This item has been aggregated as part of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL)'s "Deeply Rooted: The Agricultural & Rural History of the American South" project.
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Unidentified record book
Elliscliffe Plantation
This item has been aggregated as part of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL)'s "Deeply Rooted: The Agricultural & Rural History of the American South" project.
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Receipt for the Sale of 7 Enslaved Persons
Alexander C. McEwen
Receipt for the sale from Alexander C. and Eliza M. McEwen to their daughter Elizabeth M. Featherston of seven enslaved persons named Julia Ann, Cornelius, Ilay Ann, Ellen, John, William, and Frances.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Martha
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Martha to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Tom
George H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named Tom to George H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Albert and Isaac
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of two enslaved persons named Albert and Isaac to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Margaret
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Margaret to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Marshall
G. H. Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved boy named Marshall to G. H. Moseley.
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Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Ned and Simpson
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of 2 enslaved men named Ned and Simpson
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![Bill of Sale of 8 Enslaved Persons Named Jacob, Minny, Sally, [infant child], Juno, Simion, Henry, and Dennis by S. H. Plant](https://egrove.olemiss.edu/lanternproject/1063/thumbnail.jpg "Bill of Sale of 8 Enslaved Persons Named Jacob, Minny, Sally, [infant child], Juno, Simion, Henry, and Dennis by S. H. Plant")
Bill of Sale of 8 Enslaved Persons Named Jacob, Minny, Sally, [infant child], Juno, Simion, Henry, and Dennis
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of 8 enslaved persons named Jacob, Minny, Sally, [infant child], Juno, Simion, Henry, and Dennis
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Delivery of slaves from the estate of Robert A. Reinhardt, 9 January 1858
William B. Smith, John D. Reinhardt, and Timmons Louis Treadwell
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Malvina
Orville M. Blanton
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Malvina.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Nancy
J. J. Pruitt
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Nancy
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Lidia
Jane L. Collins
Bill of sale of an enslaved person named Lidia
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Clarry
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Clarry to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Martha
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved girl named Martha to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of an Enslaved Person Named Matilda
Cummings Moseley
Bill of sale of an enslaved woman named Matilda to Moseley and Cummings.
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Bill of Sale of 2 Enslaved Persons Named Susan and Bolin
S. H. Plant
Bill of sale of 2 enslaved persons named Susan and Bolin, Susan's son
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Bill of Sale of 5 Enslaved Persons Named Eliza Jane, her unnamed infant child, Jane, John, and Anna
Jacob Thompson
Bill of sale of 5 enslaved persons named Eliza Jane, Eliza Jane's infant child, Jane, John, and Anna
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![Bill of Sale of 7 Enslaved Persons Named Milly, Nathan, Georgianna, Mason, Nancy, [child], and [Jim Linder] by Jacob Thompson](https://egrove.olemiss.edu/lanternproject/1057/thumbnail.jpg "Bill of Sale of 7 Enslaved Persons Named Milly, Nathan, Georgianna, Mason, Nancy, [child], and [Jim Linder] by Jacob Thompson")
Bill of Sale of 7 Enslaved Persons Named Milly, Nathan, Georgianna, Mason, Nancy, [child], and [Jim Linder]
Jacob Thompson
Bill of Sale of 7 enslaved persons named Milly, Nathan, Georgianna, Mason, Nancy, [child], and [Jim Linder]
