Working with documents - Summarizing historical information about life for slaves (Activity I)

[John Lee]

This is the first of three activities that use the SCIM-C method to explore resources on the Plantation Letters website.

Activity I

The Plantation Letters website includes numerous letters written by Paul Cameron, Charles Lewellyn, and others involved in the Cameron family dealings. Select one of these letters and summarize the content of the letter. Below are questions you can use to scaffold your work.


{from David Hicks and Peter Doolittle - http://www.historicalinquiry.com/scim/index.cfm}


Summarizing
Summarizing is the first phase of the SCIM-C strategy and begins with having students quickly examine the documentary aspects of the text, in order to find any information or evidence that is explicitly available from the source. Within this phase students should attempt to identify the source's subject, author, purpose, and audience, as well as the type of historical source (e.g., letter, photograph, cartoon). In addition, the student should look for key facts, dates, ideas, opinions, and perspectives that appear to be immediately apparent within the source. The four analyzing questions associated with the summarizing phase include:
1. What type of historical document is the source?
2. What specific information, details and/or perspectives does the source provide?
3. What is the subject and/or purpose of the source?
4. Who was the author and/or audience of the source?

[Mary Ashley Osment]

This historical document is a letter written by P.C. Cameron to his father Hon. Duncan Cameron. Cameron begins his letter by updating his father on the well-being of the family. For example, He mentions that Anne is having a problem with her teeth and gums and Mary is having a problem with her head or hair. He mentions that in their family of blacks, there are several that are sick but will get better. Another purpose of the letter is to tell his father that their supply of leather will be sent out soon so that the shoemakers can begin their work. Cameron also tells his father of his struggles with his crops. The letters main purpose is for the author to update his audience on their well-being and recent struggles.
1. This historical document is a letter.
2. The source provides details on the author's well-being and his family's well-being. There are many details on illnesses and struggles with crops.
3. The subject or purpose of the source is for a son to inform his father on how his family is doing and how his plantation and crops are doing.
4. The author of the source was P.C. Cameron and the audience of the source was his father, Hon. Duncan Cameron.

[Julie Treadwell]

1. What type of historical document is the source?
The historical document I read is a letter.

2. What specific information, details and/or perspectives does the source provide?
The source provides specific information about Paul Cameron getting horses and slaves from Mr. Laws. Interestingly, the horses cost ten dollars each and the slaves cost six or seven dollars each.

3. What is the subject and/or purpose of the source?
The purpose of the letter was to let Paul Cameron’s father know what kind of deal Mr. Laws made with them and what all Paul has being doing at work. Now, it gives perspective on what it was like to make deals and do work as an everyday plantation owner. Also, it shows what sort of respect slaves got back then.

4. Who was the author and/or audience of the source?
The author of this source was Paul Cameron and the audience was Duncan Cameron (Paul’s father).

[Jena Smith]

1. This type of historical document is in the form of a letter. It is an exchange between Mr. Charles Lewellyn and Mr. Cameron.
2. That the cotton and corn is looking good. It seems as though health is taking its tool on the work force. Two slaves had had babies, one a girl and one a boy and another has a hurt foot. While another one tried to escape to North Carolina, but was caught in Greensboro. That he needs corn, because his will run out before his own crop is ready to come in.
3. To inform Mr. Cameron of the status of the plantation. To give details about the crop, how it looks, and how the workers are doing.
4. The author, Mr. Lewellyn. The audience, Mr. Cameron
Summary: This was a letter of correspondence, written by Mr. Charles Lewellyn to Mr. Cameron on May 11, 1845. In the letter, Mr. Lewellyn lets Mr. Cameron in on what is happening on the plantation. He informs Mr. Cameron of the state of health that many slaves are in. He tells him of two slaves who have had children, and of one slave who has hurt his foot. He tells of one slave who tried to escape up to North Carolina, but was caught in Greensboro. He tells the status of the crops; both the corn and the cotton are looking good but the oats, not so much. He tells Mr. Cameron that the health of the workers needs to improve so work can continue. He ends the letter stating that his corn will not last until his corn will be ready to come in; he is running short on some supplies.

[Julie Cox]

This is a letter from Paul Cameron to his father. In this letter, Paul Cameron first tells his father about a slave's child that died several dies earlier. He then informs his father of the bad weather and the trip that his plans to make to both Hillsboro and Person. Paul Cameron is expecting his father to arrive in town on Thursday, and he is explaining how many mules he will use. He feels that his dad will be very helpful while he is in town. At the end of the letter, Paul tells his father that he has not yet seen Judge Ruffin, and then explains that members of his family have suffered from fever in the past few days.

[Meghan Ritch]

series: 1.3.3, box: 40, folder: 935, date: 1844-10-12

Summary
Paul Cameron wrote this letter to his father, Duncan Cameron, on October 12, 1844 from Stagville, NC. He uses the first part of the letter to give his father the news of illnesses in his family, although no one in the family is seriously ill. He also informs Duncan of his plans to move slaves to the south. Paul describes his plans for the move to his father in great detail, and he finally expresses his hope to see his father and sister in the coming week.

Summarizing
1. This historical document is a letter.
2. Paul Cameron informs his father of the current health of his family and he discusses his plans to transport slaves south.
3. This purpose of this letter is to update Paul's father on his family and the upcoming transportation of the slaves.
4. Paul Cameron wrote this letter to his father, Duncan Cameron.

[Brian Carnesecchi]

A letter from P C Cameron to his father on November 18th, 1845 from Greene County, Alabama:

This is a letter from a son who is overseeing a major family business operation to his father. He talks about his relationship with Llewellyn, the plantation manager, and the state of the plantation affairs, including crop harvesting production, the attitude of the slaves, and the quality of food and clothing of the slaves.

What type of historical document is this?
This is a primary source document.

What specific information, details and/or perspectives does the source provide?
It lists the amount of production in harvesting that each slave has contributed on a given day. It discusses how the plantation manager is doing in his managing the affairs and operations of the plantation as well as managing and motivating the slaves themselves. PC Cameron also talks about other details of the plantation affairs such as a recent tax bill, the amount of food that is left for the slaves, and how the plantation manager is doing in running the plantation.

What is the subject and/or purpose of the source?
Overall it seems that the subject and purpose is to update Mr. Duncan Cameron, the author’s father, of the state of affairs regarding how profitable the plantation in Alabama currently is. Paul, the author, also seeks to extend certain inside familial greetings through his father.

Who is the author and audience of the source?
The author is Paul Cameron, who is overseeing overall plantation operations, and the audience is Duncan Cameron, Paul’s father, as well as Paul’s uncle.

[Alexandra Morgan Teich]

Summarizing:
1. What type of historical document is the source?
This is a primary source document.
2. What specific information, details and/or perspectives does the source provide?
This letter talks about Paul's detainment because of Abner's child's sickness and then his death. The perspective of the author seems organized and patient. Even though there were problems on the road his kept his composure. Also, he described the items he needed on his journey like wagons, collars, and mules.
3. What is the subject and/or purpose of the source?
The purpose of this letter is to inform Duncan Cameron about his son's journey thus far.
4. Who was the author and/or audience of the source?
The author was Paul Cameron and the audience was his father, Duncan Cameron.

[Kayla Jernigan]

1. This historical document is a letter from Paul Cameron written to his dad, Duncan Cameron.
2. This particular letter had many specific detailsabout money he was making or things he bought such as: he gave Mr. Ruffin $600, he paid Mr. Laws $140 who in turn gave Paul $226.37(all he had in his hands), he hoped to get $3.25 or $3.50 for pork this season, he needed to purchase many more mules, and he ordered 35 stacks of salt from Mobile. He also asks his dad to tell his uncle that he will likely get the Jurbroughs estate and will receive a dividend of 33.3% on the 1st of January but will probably never receive anything else from it. He also notifies his father that he will pay him back for everything he has borrowed when the crops are harvested. He is also sad that he has not received a letter from his wife. He misses his family terribly. At the end, Paul asks his dad to give the family his love.
3. The purpose of this letter is for Paul to inform Duncan about what is happening on the plantation in Alabama. He also tells his family that he misses them.
4. Paul Cameron is the author and the audience is his father, Duncan Cameron

[Christine Fischer]

This letter is written to Duncan Cameron from his son, Paul Cameron. Paul is writing his father to inform him of the successful delivery of slaves to Greensboro, Alabama (from NC). All but one, Edmund, are strong and healthy. Paul has trouble converting his checks to cash but will continue to try. He tells his father of the slave quarters and cabins and how they were not, to his disappointment, what he had expected them to be. He has also hired an overseer, Mr. Lewellyn, after seeking him out and paying him $600. He is happy with Mr. Lewellyn because he has had much experience on a plantation in VA, although he confides in his father that he wishes the overseer had a family. Paul notifies Duncan that a letter has been sent ahead with the full history of his terms of purchase and he hopes he has received it already. Paul also confides that he misses his family greatly and is praying for them and their health/well-being. He is also anxious to see what will happen with their Rail Road as both parties in the Legislature are having difficulty with credit.

1. This historical document is a formal letter.
2. The letter provides business information (formal perspective) about the slaves, the plantation, the workers Paul has hired, and dealings with money. I got the impression that Paul genuinely hopes his father is happy with him for being successful in the transportation of slaves. I also noticed a more personal perspective when Paul spoke of his family and how he misses them all.
3. The purpose of Paul's letter is to relay to his father important information about successes and struggles he is dealing with in Alabama. He explains the success of the transport of healthy slaves but also speaks of his struggles to convert his checks to cash. I also think another purpose of this letter is to inform Duncan of the next steps he is taking in Alabama from here on out. He talks about his plans to order salt and pork and how his uncle should be receiving a payment for his land on January 1st. He also discusses money with his father. It almost seems as if he is informally asking for advice about what to do next.
4. The author of the letter is Paul Cameron and the audience is his father, Duncan Cameron.

[John Lee]

This is a letter written Dec 7, 1844
http://plantationletters.com/pcameron/Paul_Cameron_1844_12_7_TR.swf

The part of the letter I find most interesting is the part about Paul planing to go to work on the cabins

[Denise Smith]

This letter was written by Paul Cameron to his father Duncan Cameron. Paul discusses his and his family's wellbeing and the condition of the plantation to his father while he is away. He also makes requests from his father for supplies such as leather for shoes and material for clothing for the fall weather. Paul Cameron informs is father about the lack of crops that came in this year and he tells him that four members of congress have died so far. This individual tells his father that he received the letters his father sent and is waiting for letters from his Aunt Mildred also.

1. This historical document source is a handwritten copy of the letter from Paul Cameron to his father Duncan Cameron.
2. The specific information this letter provides is a request to his father for supplies that he needs on the plantation so they can make shoes and clothing for the slaves; and, Paul is informing his father about things that are happening on the plantation while his father is away. There is sickness in his immediate family and the slaves, the crops did not come in as well as he expected and there were 4 members of the legislature whom have died since his father has been gone.
3. The subject of the source is the maintenance of the plantation. The purpose of the source is keep all parties informed of the maintenance of the plantation.
4. The author of the source was Paul Cameron and the audience of the letter was his father Duncan Cameron.

[Kimberley Thurston]

Oct. 20, 1844 (3rd Paul Cameron Letter)

This is a letter to his father explaining that he is stuck at home due to the weather and the death of Abner’s child. He is trying to travel to Person and Hillsborough. He thinks he will be ready to go on Friday, November 1st. He expects his father to be where he is on Thursday. They have delivered wagons but he fears that they are too full. He also explains that he is in need of some materials. In a wrap up of this letter, he is just letting his father know how things are at the plantation. He lets his father know that the family is doing well for the most part except Marry.
1) This is a letter from Paul Cameron to his father.
2) This letter provides the reader with evidence about how the plantation is doing back home. It tells of the bad weather, the full wagons, and the current state of the people at home.
3) The purpose is to tell the father how things are back home while he is away.
4) The author is Paul Cameron, and the audience is his father.