Fragment of “Bill of Sale for “Boston,” a man of about nineteen years of age, sold by Ephraim Breed to Joseph Parsons Jr. in 1715. Parsons lived where the post office is now on Bridge Street (Collection of Forbes Library).
For transcription and context for the documents featured in the exhibit, see education materials and Slavery Research Project.
Slavery and Freedom in Northampton, 1654-1783
July 3, 2025 – December 11, 2026
For 129 years, slavery was part of the fabric of everyday life in Northampton. At least 50 enslaved individuals lived here from the town’s English settlement in 1654 until 1783 when slavery was abolished in Massachusetts.
This exhibit features life-sized silhouettes of men, women, and children who were enslaved here. Each silhouette has information about their individual lives found in historic documents. Their histories reveal aspects of enslavement and examples of freedom and resistance to oppression.
The exhibit tells what we currently know about the lives of these enslaved individuals and how some gained freedom, started families, and purchased property. It also describes the ways in which Northampton enslavers exerted power and control over their lives.
To arrange a special tour, contact us at info@historicnorthampton.org or call (413) 584-6011
For transcription and context for the documents featured in the exhibit, see education materials and Slavery Research Project.
Exhibit Information
Exhibit Dates
July 3, 2025 – December 11, 2026
Hours
Wednesday – Sunday
11 am to 4 pm
Closed holidays
Admission
By Donation
Where
Historic Northampton
46 Bridge Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Directions, Transportation & Parking
Images of the Exhibit
