A BIGGER WORLD THAN WE'VE IMAGINED

In 1838 free Black people in Pennsylvania organized to maintain the right to vote.  As part of this effort many important statistics were collected, including a census of the free Black population of Philadelphia.  These documents show us a bigger, more impactful world than the history textbooks are talking about.  This our launching point. 

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These maps are sourced from 1838 Data.  In particular, the 1838 PAS Census, the 1838 Register of Trades and the 1838 Report on the Present State of the Colored People of Philadelphia. 

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Data is also sourced from Philadelphia Contributorship and Pennsylvania Insurance Company Surveys and from the New Jersey Guide to the Underground Railroad. 

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