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1854 tax statement (personal property tax) to the City of Saint Louis from Henry Shaw stating his ownership of ten enslaved persons.
1854 |
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1855 tax statement (personal property tax) to the City of Saint Louis from Henry Shaw stating his ownership of four enslaved persons.
1855 |
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Mary Meachum (1801-1869), wife of John Berry Meachum. She and her husband were both freed persons engaged in the efforts of the Underground Railroad through their church, home, and school. On the early morning of May, 21st of 1855 nine enslaved persons including four owned by Henry Shaw; Esther, her two children, and one unnamed male made their break for freedom utilizing the Underground Railroad with the assistance of Mary Meachum. They attempted crossing the Mississippi River to the free state of Illinois. Unfortunately bounty hunters awaited them and they were soon captured and Mary Meachum would be jailed for the attempt. The location of this historic event on the banks of Mississippi River north of downtown St. Louis is today memorialized as the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.
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John Berry Meachum, husband of Mary Meachum. He and his wife were both freed persons engaged in the efforts of the Underground Railroad through their church, home, and school. A pastor and founder of the oldest black church in Missouri he was also a skilled carpenter. A trade he taught to those he assisted, a skill that afforded him income to help free enslaved people by buying their freedom. As an educator he operated a school which taught both free and enslaved black students. When the state of Missouri banned all education for blacks in 1847 he circumvented the law by teaching classes on a steamboat on the Mississippi River. The efforts of John and Mary Meachum are today celebrated with the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.
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Reynold's Political Map of the United States from 1850.
1850 |
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The Garden held its first floral display shows in the 1890s at the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall. These early shows featured Chrysanthemums and would later move to Garden grounds in 1905. Located at Olive and 13th Street the St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall operated between 1883-1907 and was demolished to make way for the St. Louis Central Library which stands today at the downtown location.
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Bill of sale for Esther, enslaved black woman, 1852 (call#E445.M67 K55 1852 4o,) Julian Edison Department of Special Collections, Washington University Libraries.
1852 |
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Signed oath of loyalty by Henry Shaw from 1868, front side. Also see IMAGE 0149.
1868 |
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Signed oath of loyalty by Henry Shaw from 1868, back side. Also see IMAGE 0148.
1868 |
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Map of early prairies of St. Louis city including Prairie Des Noyers fields which would become the future location of the Missouri Botahical Garden and Tower Grove Park.
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