News: September/October 2007
Events to mark 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade
In 1807 the British parliament passed a bill banning the transatlantic slave trade on British ships. The Abolitionists had led the struggle to bring the system to an end and, although it would be many more years before slaves were actually given their freedom, this was the first step on the way to ending the barbaric practice of slavery. Here are some of the events which explore Scotland’s involvement with this barbaric practice as well as the abolitionist movement.
Exhibition in Dumfries
Dumfries Museum 1 September - 6 October
An exhibition opens at Dumfries Museum on 1 September to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in Britain. Curated by Frances Wilkins, it coincides with the publication of her book on the subject. Both the exhibition and the book are the result of exhaustive research which has revealed a much greater involvement in the slave trade by the region’s 18th century merchants and sea captains than has hitherto been understood.
Display panels in the exhibition outline how the region was involved, for example the voyages from Dumfries and Kirkcudbright to Africa to collect slaves for sale in Virginia and Maryland, and the role of Wigtown and Moffat merchants based in Liverpool in the trade. The returning ships brought tobacco and rum to the region; a highly profitable business for the merchants involved.
For the cause of abolition, William Dickson was perhaps the most prominent campaigner from the region. Born in Moffat, Dickson had worked as secretary to the governor of Barbados but returned to London. In 1792 he travelled from Inverness to Kirkcudbright, handing out booklets about the slave trade in an attempt to persuade local groups to petition Parliament to reconsider abolishing the trade from Britain.
Dickson’s booklet includes a picture of the Brooks of Liverpool, indicating graphically how the slaves were carried on board. This ship, built in 1781, was later owned by George and Robert Tod, originally also from Moffat but now merchants in Liverpool. The trade was eventually abolished in 1807 – the Tods’ vessel the Kitty’s Amelia was the last slaver to sail from Britain, legally.
On Saturday 1 September at 7.30 Frances Wilkins will also give a lecture on “Dumfries and the Transatlantic Slave Trade" at Dumfries Museum. Although booking is not essential, visitors should telephone the museum on 01387 253374 to be sure of a place.
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Conference - Scotland and Slavery
Saturday 29 September 10am - 5pm
at the AK Bell Library, Perth
The Scottish Local History Forum has chosen ‘Scotland and Slavery’ as its conference theme for 2007.
The Sugar Plantocracy of Scotland. Dr Eric Graham.
The Anti-Slave Trade Tour of William Dickson in 1792. Dr Iain Whyte.
Glasgow University, Slavery and Abolition: An Untold Story. Lesley Richmond, University of Glasgow Library.
Scotland and the Slave Trade: South West Connections. Dr Lizanne Henderson, University of Glasgow Crichton Campus.
Servitude or Slavery? Scottish servants in the early colonies. Sheila Millar, Local Studies Librarian, East Lothian.
‘And some have slaves thrust upon them’: early 19th century letters between Paxton, Berwickshire, and Grenada’. Sonia Baker, Editor, 4th Statistical Account of East Lothian.
The conference fee is £18 for members of the SLHF, and £20 for non-members. This includes a buffet lunch. Closing date for applications: 21 Sept 2007.
Contact: Mrs Doris Williamson, SLHF, c/o Scottish History, School of History and Classics, University of Edinburgh, 17 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh EH8 9LN tel: 0131 669 8252.
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Black History Month Slavery 2007 - The African perspective
Throughout October, Glasgow’s libraries and museums will be running a programme of talks, tours and events on the West and Central African cultures most heavily affected by the impact of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries. Glasgow Museums will be looking at the interpretation of African objects in the Museums’ collections as well as holding talks, gallery tours, object handling sessions and traditional storytelling using puppets.
www.glasgowmuseums.com
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Museum of Edinburgh - "It didn't happen here”
A new exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh in Canongate explores Edinburgh’s links with the West Indies. "It didn't happen here: Edinburgh's Links with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade” shows how Edinburgh profited from the slave trade, and was actively involved in its abolition and the eventual emancipation of the slaves in 1838. Edinburgh’s links with the slave trade ranged from the tobacco, rum and sugar which came in from Scottish owned plantations to the Edinburgh residents who sailed to the West Indies in search of their fortunes. Slaves were even brought back and sold in Edinburgh. See lecture programme on page 13
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EXPLORE THE WORLD with the ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
the forthcoming season of illustrated talks,
Founded in 1884, the RSGS is Scotland’s leading educational charity supporting geographical teaching and research as well as a community-based programme of 100 illustrated talks throughout Scotland between October and March. The Society publishes a journal and newsletter and is a major source of geographical information.
Speakers in 2007-08 take us on exciting journeys to all corners of the globe - from Antarctica to the Canadian Arctic via Afghanistan, Morocco and the Gobi Desert, introducing us to lands of contrast and peoples of the world.
For further information on membership of the Society or the forthcoming season of illustrated talks, see the Society’s website:
www.rsgs.org
or contact RSGS, 40 George Street Glasgow G1 1QE
Tel: 0141 552 3330 e-mail: rsgs@strath.ac.uk
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