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Houston’s Freedmen

A deeper look into slavery and its effects on the Houston area.

This will include coverage of the federally funded “Slave Narratives” project: First-person accounts of formerly enslaved persons recorded between 1936 and 1938.  At the time of these recordings, these formerly enslaved people had been free for over 70 years.

Also, we will look at freedpeople who settled in and near Houston, and their effects on the city.

Pinkie Yates
Houston's Freedmen Uncovering Houston

Pinkie Yates

Birth and Family Pinkie Yates was born to Reverend John Henry “Jack” Yates and Harriet Willis Yates in Houston, Texas.…

The Covington Family
Houston's Freedmen Uncovering Houston

The Covington Family

The Patriarch Dr. Benjamin Jesse Covington (1869 – 1961) was born in Marlin, Texas to formerly enslaved parents, Ben and…

The Gregory Institute: The Cornerstone of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town
Houston's Freedmen

The Gregory Institute: The Cornerstone of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town

The Gregory Institute was founded in 1870 and named after Union officer, Edgar Mantlebert Gregory. He was an outspoken abolitionist…

Mary Armstrong: A Freedwoman
Houston's Freedmen

Mary Armstrong: A Freedwoman

The subject of this week’s 70 Years a Freedmen series will be Mary Armstrong, a formerly enslaved woman interviewed by…

Sarah Ford: A Freedwoman
Houston's Freedmen

Sarah Ford: A Freedwoman

For the sake of changing things up a bit and adding more variety to the blog, I have created a…

The Yates Family: A Testament to the Indomitable Spirit and Perseverance of the Formerly Enslaved
Houston's Freedmen Uncovering Houston

The Yates Family: A Testament to the Indomitable Spirit and Perseverance of the Formerly Enslaved

John Henry “Jack” Yates was born into slavery on July 11, 1828 to Robert and Rachel Yates, who were enslaved…

Who is The Curious Histonian?

A Texan with a passion for Houston, Black, and Southern history.

I love genealogy, reading, video games, and annoying my boyfriend with historical tidbits he couldn’t care less about.

Social Media: Mastodon

Email: eboni@curioushistonian.com

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