Priscilla’s Homecoming Documents

  • Sierra Leone today
    Sierra Leone today
  • Gullah region of coastal South Carolina and Georgia
    Gullah region of coastal South Carolina and Georgia
  • Sierra Leone River in the vicinity of Bunce Island (upper right), from an 18th century map
    Sierra Leone River in the vicinity of Bunce Island (upper right), from an 18th century map
  • West African coast in the vicinity of Sierra Leone, from a 19th century map
    West African coast in the vicinity of Sierra Leone, from a 19th century map
  • Drawing of "Bense Island," 1726
    Drawing of "Bense Island," 1726
  • Plan of "Bense Island," 1726
    Plan of "Bense Island," 1726
  • Drawing of Bunce Island, 1749
    Drawing of Bunce Island, 1749
  • Drawing of "Bance Island," 1805
    Drawing of "Bance Island," 1805
  • African house in Sierra Leone (18th century)
    African house in Sierra Leone (18th century)
  • West African women (18th century)
    West African women (18th century)
  • African slave traders attacking a village
    African slave traders attacking a village
  • African slave traders marching captives to the sea
    African slave traders marching captives to the sea
  • European and African slave traders on the coast of West Africa
    European and African slave traders on the coast of West Africa
  • Slaves in Sierra Leone, ca. 1803
    Slaves in Sierra Leone, ca. 1803
  • Slave Ship, detail from drawing of Bunce Island, 1749
    Slave Ship, detail from drawing of Bunce Island, 1749
  • Diagram showing how African captives were imprisoned aboard a slave ship
    Diagram showing how African captives were imprisoned aboard a slave ship
  • Richard Oswald, the principal owner of Bunce Island from 1748-1784 Credit: Private Collection (UK)
    Richard Oswald, the principal owner of Bunce Island from 1748-1784 Credit: Private Collection (UK)
  • Henry Laurens, the Charleston slave merchant who sold Priscilla Credit: National Portrait Gallery
    Henry Laurens, the Charleston slave merchant who sold Priscilla Credit: National Portrait Gallery
  • Portrait of Henry Laurens Credit: Corcoran Gallery
    Portrait of Henry Laurens Credit: Corcoran Gallery
  • Advertisement for slaves from the "Hare," South-Carolina Gazette, June 17, 1756 [Transcript]
    Advertisement for slaves from the "Hare," South-Carolina Gazette, June 17, 1756 [Transcript]
  • Elias Ball II, the planter who purchased Priscilla Credit: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
    Elias Ball II, the planter who purchased Priscilla Credit: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
  • Elias Ball's diary, June 30, 1756 Credit: South Carolina Historical Society [Transcript]
    Elias Ball's diary, June 30, 1756 Credit: South Carolina Historical Society [Transcript]
  • The Ball family's Comingtee Plantation in 1940, where Priscilla lived until her death in 1811.
    The Ball family's Comingtee Plantation in 1940, where Priscilla lived until her death in 1811.
  • "The Old Plantation" painting, ca. 1790. Shows leisure activities of slaves in South Carolina during the lifetime of Priscilla
    "The Old Plantation" painting, ca. 1790. Shows leisure activities of slaves in South Carolina during the lifetime of Priscilla
  • Gullahs laboring in a rice plantation (19th century)
    Gullahs laboring in a rice plantation (19th century)
  • Gullah street vendor, Charleston, ca. 1900 Credit: Gibbs Art Gallery, Charleston
    Gullah street vendor, Charleston, ca. 1900 Credit: Gibbs Art Gallery, Charleston
  • Edward Ball with Carolyn Smalls Goodson (1997)
    Edward Ball with Carolyn Smalls Goodson (1997)
  • Joseph Opala interviewing an African elder living near Bunce Island (1988) Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
    Joseph Opala interviewing an African elder living near Bunce Island (1988) Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
  • Joseph Opala at Bunce Island (1988) Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
    Joseph Opala at Bunce Island (1988) Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
  • Ruins on Bunce Island Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
    Ruins on Bunce Island Photo by Vera Viditz-Ward
  • Gullah Homecoming party participating in a libation ceremony at Bunce Island, Sierra Leone (1989) Photo by Maggie Steber
    Gullah Homecoming party participating in a libation ceremony at Bunce Island, Sierra Leone (1989) Photo by Maggie Steber
  • Gullah Homecoming group examining the ruins of the slave prison at Bunce Island (1989) Photo by Maggie Steber
    Gullah Homecoming group examining the ruins of the slave prison at Bunce Island (1989) Photo by Maggie Steber
  • Thomas P. Martin, father of Thomalind Martin Polite
    Thomas P. Martin, father of Thomalind Martin Polite
  • Mrs. Thomalind Martin Polite and her daughter Faith. Photo by Rick McKee/charlestonphotographer.com
    Mrs. Thomalind Martin Polite and her daughter Faith. Photo by Rick McKee/charlestonphotographer.com
  • Vernon House, Newport, Rhode Island
    Vernon House, Newport, Rhode Island
  • Gravestone of William Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island
    Gravestone of William Vernon, Newport, Rhode Island
  • American Negotiators, Treaty of Paris (1783) Credit: The Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
    American Negotiators, Treaty of Paris (1783) Credit: The Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library
  • Close-up of Henry Laurens and Benjamin Franklin from the painting by Benjamin West
    Close-up of Henry Laurens and Benjamin Franklin from the painting by Benjamin West