Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

[Collection of 22 documents pertaining to "The State vs. Cally, a Slave"] [Decimalized .01- .22]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08381 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Header Record Date: 1858-1859 Pagination: 22 items Order a Copy

The State vs. Cally, involving Calahil, a slave from Lawrence County, Alabama, who assaulted "with a gun & sythe blade with intent to kill a white person named John W. Roberts. . .", a slave catcher. Includes arrest warrant, Bill of Cost, 12 subpoenas, and notes between judge and jury. "The negro has a right of self defense, not only to protect his own life and limb, but to protect his master's property in him."

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