THE 1838 CENSUS
The 1838 Census was funded by the Pennsylvania Abolition Society (PAS) and collected, processed and analyzed by Charles Gardner and Benjamin Bacon. While the PAS had previously collected statistics, we believe this is the first time they partnered with a leader in the Black community - Charles Gardner, Pastor of the First African Presbyterian Church. That partnership made a difference and translated to questions about manumission and price paid for freedom that only a trusted census taker could ask.
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As far we know, this is the first time Black people led the collection of their own statistics in the United States.
APPRECIATIONS
We are appreciative to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for permission to show the census.
To cite this work please use the following language:
"Committee to visit the Colored People" census facts collected by Benjamin C. Bacon and Charles Gardner [Ams .133] 1838. Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers [0490].
"Committee to visit the Colored People" analysis of census facts collected by Benjamin C. Bacon and Charles Gardner [AmS
.134] 1838. Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers [0490].
USING THE FINDING AID
WATCH THE QUICK VIDEO (1 minute) to LEARN HOW TO USE THE FINDING AID AND THE MAP TO FIND PEOPLE FROM THE CENSUS
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Download the PDF version here
