Names on Record features eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth-century
Virginians of African descent. In the journal, ordinary people live American's
extraordinary history on record at the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and
other repositories.
Relying heavily upon the massive Civil War records at the National Archives in
Washington, D.C., Names on Record stresses the Union Navy. Although the journal
emphasizes Virginians of African descent, a single page of a record may note persons of
varying backgrounds. This is especially true of the muster rolls naming crew members in
the interracial, multicultural U.S. Navy. Thus, in showing black Virginians named on
Record, this work necessarily presents a broader picture.
In 1861, notwithstanding those African Americans who managed to serve in some
white regiments, the U.S. Army's official policy forbade the enlistment of black
Americans slave or free. Meanwhile, numerous free and fugitive black men continued to
add their names to the muster rolls of the U.S. Navy, in which black men had always
served.
Slaves fleeing to blockading Union ships presented political, ethical, and logistical
problems for Navy captains, who constantly questioned their superiors about procedure.
To reject, return, transport, or enlist these fugitives were issues requiring clarification.
Names on Record includes:
Lists of Certain Virginia Slaves Escaping to the Union Navy |
Names and Residences of the Various Virginia Slaveholders |
Getaway Stories |
Names, Birthplaces, and Ages of Numerous Virginia Sailors of African Descent |
Letters Written by Union Officers |
Photographs of Union Ships and Men |
Maps |
Muster Roll of a First-Class Frigatepreparing to leave Boston for Hampton Roads in 1863*Virginia-born black men *Integrated crew of 610 sailors born in the U.S. and other areas, including Antigua and St. Kitts (West Indies), St. Helena, Azores, Cape de Verde, England, Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, and Sweden. (Of the 610 sailors on the roll, 75 (12.3%) are described as black, Negro, mulatto, quadroon, or octoroon.) |
soon to sweep the James River for mines when |
Muster Roll of the Hunchback on the James River, 1864*Integrated crew of 94, of which 28 are described as Negro*Sailors described as Negro Representation from Georgia, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia |
Muster Roll of a Store and Receiving Ship, Norfolk Navy Yard*Integrated crew born in Connecticut, Georgia, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, NorthCarolina, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Bermuda, Germany, Ireland, Prussia, Scotland, etc. |
Muster Roll of the Famous Monitor,ending a repair trip at the Washington Navy Yard and heading back to Virginia |
Extracts from Other Muster Rolls*Virginia-born contrabands attached to a store, hospital, ordnance, and receiving shipoff Port Royal, South Carolina *Some sailors attached to an ironclad off Newport News, Virginia *Some sailors attached to an ordnance vessel at Hampton Roads, Virginia *Some sailors attached to a coal ship at the Norfolk Navy Yard |
Extracts from Other Navy Records |
Extracts from a Revolutionary War Pension File |
Extracts from Civil War Pension DepositionsRepresentation from Virginia, D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts |
Number of pages: 268
C. V. Brooks
P.O. Box 23827
Washington, D.C. 20026-3827