Slave Life at the Smith Farm
In 1845, Robert H. Smith established his family home on land that is now marked by the intersection of I-85 and North Druid Hills Road. Smith’s farm grew to encompass more than 800 acres of land, on which his family and fourteen enslaved African Americans lived. Since the Smith farmhouse and kitchen were rededicated at the Atlanta History Center in 1972, the story of these enslaved men, women, and children has been largely untold, until now. Slave Life at the Smith Farm is a panel exhibition installed inside a cabin on the Tullie Smith Farm site that provides visitors with opportunities to learn about the history of slavery in the Georgia Piedmont. In addition to presenting an overview of slave life in the state, the exhibit explores foodways, housing, labor, community life, and emancipation. Compelling details from DeKalb County records and other sources enable visitors to better understand the complex relationships between enslaved African Americans and farm-owning families.
In addition, an educational activity trunk in the cabin provides hands-on learning opportunities. Resources at the Kenan Research Center are profiled in the exhibition for those who wish to learn more about slave life in Georgia and the region or to research African American history. |
|||
|
