The Union Recorder

Local News

Related Photos

  • Scott Teague

    Old Governor’s Mansion holds new tour

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 27, 2008

Old Governor’s Mansion holds new tour

Lives of state leaders’ slaves explored

Scott Teague

From under the rug to out in the open, slavery at the Old Governor’s Mansion is being explored and explained during a new tour of Georgia’s old seat of power.

Research about the lives of the men and women enslaved by Georgia’s leaders was compiled by Deitrah Taylor, a graduate assistant at Georgia College & State University. Taylor took research conducted by Matthew Davis, assistant curator of education, and Jim Turner, director, and helped organize the tour telling stories about the lives of slaves and the complex relationship between master and servant.

“In high school, we were taught about slavery, but the slaves didn’t seem very human, and neither did the masters at the top,” Taylor said. “There did exist these relationships between master and slave, but they weren’t the “Gone With The Wind” stereotypes that we are familiar with. They were very real, complex relationships.”

Slaves cooked the food, cared for the governor’s children, served guests and even made the bricks of the house in which they would serve.

For years, the issue of slavery and its use at the mansion was skirted, Davis said.

“For many years in the museum and house museum business, the issue of slavery was brushed under the rug as one of those dirty secrets no one wanted to talk about. The trend in recent years, and one we at the Old Governor’s Mansion have been on the forefront of, has been to interpret the slave heritage of the house,” Davis said.

Much of what researchers know about the lives of slaves in the mansion comes from the letters of one governor’s wife, Elizabeth Grisham Brown. The first lady’s family was close to her slaves, the letters indicate, but her family’s actions seem at odds with such closeness.

The family that hosted slaves for Christmas dinner also abused slaves to enforce discipline.

“Gov. Brown beat one of his slaves just to show that he was the master. These are the things we want to bring to the forefront to show that,” Davis said. “We want to showcase slavery for what it was here at the mansion.”

But slaves like those who were the family’s nursemaid caring for the governor’s children and the steward who had the widest latitude of the mansion’s slaves often had been with the governor’s family for years before and after living in the mansion, Turner said.

“The house could not have functioned without the slave staff. They were an integral part of the family, and their stories need to be told,” Turner said.

Taylor, who’s working on her thesis about a plantation in Sparta, fell in love with Southern history and finds special purpose in telling the history and stories of slaves in Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion.

“As an African-American I think it’s very important to discover the human aspect of the slaves. We’re familiar with stereotypes that portray slaves as not being very smart, but you had to be intelligent to work in a place like the Old Governor’s Mansion,” Taylor said. “You had to be intelligent, to use your time wisely and [know] how to treat your masters.”

The slavery tour is by special request only. For more information about the tour or about the regular historical tour, call 445-4545.

Text Only
Local News
Poll
AP Video
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9 Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House' Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo. Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
Facebook
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Stocks