Harvard University has unveiled a database revealing 1,613 individuals who were enslaved by leaders, faculty, or staff, or who worked on the campus from 1636 to 1865. This publicly accessible resource is part of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program (HSRP), updating the initial 2022 report by the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, which identified over 70 individuals.
The HSRP database offers details such as names, locations, and dates of the enslaved, along with the names and roles of the Harvard affiliates involved. American Ancestors, a prominent genealogical nonprofit, leads the research as part of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery (H&LS) Initiative. “Expanding our research from just over 70 individuals to now 1,613 has required immense genealogical expertise,” stated Sara Bleich, vice provost for special projects at Harvard.
The database was developed through extensive genealogical and archival research. Unlike typical genealogical studies that trace back from the present, research for enslaved individuals starts in the past. Lindsay Fulton, chief research officer at American Ancestors, explained, “We are basically doubling the research — because you have to research both the enslavers and the people they enslaved.”
Researchers identified about 3,000 Harvard leaders, faculty, or staff from 1636 to 1865, using handwritten notes, faculty records, and other archival sources to reconstruct Harvard’s historical roster. “My hope is that, over time, unflinching self-examination will ripple outward,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr.
The database identifies 259 members of Harvard’s past leadership, faculty, or staff who enslaved individuals, and research is ongoing. To find enslaved persons, researchers examined probate records, land deeds, and other documents. Although the database significantly expands the original list, the increase was anticipated as the H&LS Initiative implemented recommendations from the 2022 report.
Harvard and American Ancestors acknowledge the database’s ongoing nature, as they continue identifying more enslaved individuals and tracing their descendants. Currently, about 600 living descendants have been identified. Future findings will be shared publicly, contributing to the broader exploration of institutional ties to slavery. The research will also be part of the 10 Million Names project, aiming to recover names of enslaved individuals across America.
Original Source: news.harvard.edu
