Ebenezer Kinnersley, Professor of English and later Steward of the Dormitories, receives his first payment for the services of his enslaved man by the early University of Pennsylvania, 1756

Documenting the University of Pennsylvania’s Connection to Slavery

Today, my paper regarding the University of Pennsylvania’s Connection to Slavery was published. For nearly four months and over 400 hours, I have independently researched and documented the University of Pennsylvania’s connection to slavery and the slave trade. I have been to archives across the state of Pennsylvania and even the ones at Princeton to piece together this significant part of Penn’s history.

My paper has been finished since last Monday and was supposed to be published this past Thursday, April 19. This had been the plan for weeks — and the general understanding for months — but complications arose last Tuesday which prevented the paper’s release. Last Friday, a resolution was made and today my paper was published through the University Archives and Records Center.

I would like to thank the professional staff of the University Archives and Records Center. As an economics major with no experience in historical or archival research, the assistance and guidance I received from the University Archives and Records Center was invaluable. The archivists and professional staff of UARC supported my research, clarified issues, and helped bring my research to its conclusion.

The archivists viewed my research as “sophisticated and thorough work for an undergraduate. [And that] it is really good work of a remarkable nature.”

The goal of my paper has always been to present, in the most even-handed way possible, the facts regarding Penn’s connection to slavery. My hope is to facilitate an open dialogue dealing with this part of Penn’s history in a free and well researched manner.

I stand proudly behind the academic integrity of my research. The paper is a quality documentation of Penn’s connection to slavery, and I hope that its publication can help facilitate a dialogue on campus regarding this aspect of Penn’s history.

You can read the key findings below and find the paper HERE.

— Clay Graubard.

Key Findings:

Labor and Construction

The University paid Professor of English and Steward of the Dormitories Ebenezer Kinnersley for the service of his enslaved man for at least thirteen years.

• Kinnersley first received payment for this enslaved man’s service after the Trustees complained that the current Usher could not handle the heavy chores.
• During his tenure at the University, it appears that Kinnersley only owned one enslaved person.
• Based on my research, it appears that Kinnersley purchased and owned this enslaved man for the sole purpose of assisting the University.
• Kinnersley sold an enslaved female in 1742. He and his wife, Sarah Duffield, also received an enslaved woman after the death of Sarah Duffield’s father, Joseph Duffield, in 1747.

Many of the carpenters and craftsman associated with the construction of the early University were slave holders.

• Robert Smith made renovations to the building purchased by the Trustees to first house the Academy. He also designed and built the dormitory and Provost’s house. Smith owned at least three enslaved persons throughout his life, but likely owned more.

Robert Smith’s entry in the 1769 Tax List

• Benjamin Loxley was another carpenter who did work on the early construction of the University. Loxley owned at least one enslaved person throughout his life (not including the ones he sold), but likely owned more. He also sold two enslaved people in 1760.
• John Coats was a brick maker who sold bricks to the University throughout its construction. Coats owned at least six enslaved people throughout his life, but likely owned more.

John Coat’s entry in the 1767 Tax List

• Thomas Leech paid a “Negroe man to dig” in 1752. All other mentions of hired labor appear as: laborer, workmen, or man. This is not only true for the University’s account books, but others as well. Based on research into similar accounts regarding labor, it appears that this refers to a rented enslaved person — but to say definitively would be speculation.

Thomas Leech’s Reimbursement, 1752

Taking into account the research done by other scholars and the slave holdings of the carpenters and craftsman associated with the early construction of the University, it is highly likely that enslaved labor was involved in the construction of the College.

Financial Aspects

Between the years of 1771 and 1773, the University was in need of funds for the operation of the College. They decided to conduct two fundraising tours in South Carolina and Jamaica. They sought funds from wealthy individuals — most of whom were slave holders.

• A sample of the largest donors (49 out of over 300 individuals) highlights that these people owned a minimum of 14,133 enslaved persons.
• That number is the most conservative possible estimate, as many of the individuals examined were known slave holders but there were no documents providing counts of their holdings.
• Furthermore, for individuals I did get an estimate of, figures were only available for snapshots in time and not lifetime holdings.

Partial subscription lists from the Jamaica and South Carolina fundraising tours, 1772–1773

The paper also examines eight Trustees — William Allen, Joseph Turner, Benjamin Chew Sr., Benjamin Franklin, Edward Shippen, William Shippen, James Tilghman, and Thomas Leech.

• Early in their careers, Allen and Turner sold enslaved persons. They also had a history of renting out their enslaved individuals to others.
• Benjamin Chew, Sr. owned many enslaved people. There are no accurate accounts for the number of enslaved persons that Chew owned over his lifetime, but it is reported that at one point he owned up to 175 enslaved persons. Chew not only exploited slave labor for his property and plantations, but he also sold and rented his enslaved individuals.
• Benjamin Franklin owned at least seven enslaved individuals in his household throughout his life — not including ones he bought and sold. It appears that Franklin sold at least four enslaved people over his life. He also sold advertisments in the Pennsylvania Gazette to other individuals selling their enslaved individuals.
• Edward Shippen owned and sold enslaved persons throughout his life. He owned at least three enslaved individuals and sold at least three other enslaved people.
• William Shippen owned two enslaved individuals, and James Tilghman owned four.
• Thomas Leech was given an enslaved girl from his father, Tony Leech Sr., in 1726. At the time of his death in 1762, Thomas Leech did not own any enslaved persons. However, the Leech family has a history of owning enslaved people. I found numerous records of this fact during my research, including documentation that Thomas Leech’s son, Thomas Leech Jr, and Thomas Leech’s brother, Toby Leech Jr, both owned enslaved persons.
• Between the trustees examined, they owned at least 213 enslaved people (175 were Chew’s).

The University raised at least £9,654, 7 shillings, and 11 pence from the Trustees mentioned above and all individuals associated with the fundraising tours. For comparison, the Trustees purchased the original College building for £755, 18 shillings, 11 pence, and 3 farthings.

An accurate number of enslaved persons owned by all individuals associated with the Trustees and fundraising trips cannot be estimated, except that it is undeniably much greater than 14,361.