Event Type Vocabulary
A controlled vocabulary to describe the lived experiences of enslaved people who labored for colleges or universities.
Event Type
Commercial Transaction Events
Commercial Transaction
An event in which an enslaved person is part of a transaction that involves the buying or selling of goods, services, or labor
Appraisal
An event in which an enslaved person is reviewed and assigned a monetary value, often in anticipation of sale
Enslaved Hire
An event in which an enslaved person is hired out to an individual other than their primary enslaver for a period of time
Enslaved Loan
An event in which an enslaved person is loaned to an individual other than their primary enslaver for a period of time (without monetary compensation to the primary enslaver)
Services
An event in which an enslaved person is buying or selling of services (laundry, mending, blacksmithing, midwifery)
Small Goods
An event in which an enslaved person is buying or selling small goods (crafts, foodstuffs, etc.)
Communication Events
Communication
An event in which an enslaved person imparts or exchanges information with another person.
Autobiography
An instance in which an enslaved person relates or writes their life story
Correspondence
An event in which an enslaved person receives or sends a note or letter
Testimony
An instance in which an enslaved person relates or writes an account of an event or circumstances
Education Events
Education
An event in which an enslaved person is being educated
Teaching
An event in which an enslaved person is teaching someone else
Freedom Status Events
Freedom Status
An event in which an enslaved person is part of a transaction that changes their status or ownership
Dispute
An event in which there is a dispute over an enslaved person’s freedom status
Emancipationt
An event in which an enslaved person is freed by an order of a state
Enslavement
An event in which a person’s status changes from free to enslaved
Exchange
An event in which an enslaved person is exchanged for another enslaved person or goods by a free person who has control over them
Manumission
An event in which an enslaved person is freed by an owner(s)
Sale
An event in which an enslaved person is sold by their owner(s)
Transfer
An event in which ownership or control of an enslaved person is transferred from one entity to another
Health Events
Health
An event in which an enslaved person is ill or undergoes a major bodily issue, sometimes requiring attendance from a healthcare provider
Childbirth
An event in which a woman gives birth to a child
Illness
An event in which an enslaved person experiences sickness or disease
Injury
An event in which an enslaved person experiences a physical trauma to the body through accident, assault, or other causes
Medical Treatment
An event in which an enslaved person receives treatment for illness, injury, or other medical conditions
Pregnancy
An event in which an enslaved person is pregnant
Intra-Community Conflict Events
Intra-Community Conflict
An event in which enslaved people are in conflict with one another
Physical Altercation
An event in which enslaved people are involved in a physical altercation with one another
Theft
An event in which an enslaved person steals something from another enslaved person
Verbal Altercation
An event in which enslaved people are involved in a verbal altercation with one another
Labor Events
Labor
An event in which an enslaved person is performing some kind of work
Agriculture
An event in which a person works to raise a crop or livestock
Artisanal
An event in which a person participates in labor that requires specialized knowledge and experience, e.g. carpentry, blacksmithing, tailoring, shoemaking
Domestic
An event in which a person works at the tasks required to keep a home, e.g. cooking, cleaning, laundry
Midwifery
An event in which a person assists with the birthing of a child
Sex work
An event in which a person engages in sexual activity in exchange for money or goods. That compensation, like other hired-out labor, usually benefited the person’s owner.
Teaching assistant
An event in which a person serves as an assistant to an instructor
Legal Events
Legal
An event that involves a legal filing or proceeding related to an enslaved person
Agreement
An event in which two parties come to an agreement with respect to an enslaved person that is articulated in an official document
Civil action
A legal dispute involving an enslaved person based on a non-criminal issue
Criminal action
A legal dispute involving an enslaved person that relates to a criminal statute
Dowry
A legal filing involving an enslaved person related to the transfer of property on the occasion of a marriage
Freedom petition
A legal petition from an enslaved person claiming their freedom rights
Manumission registration
A legal filing that registers the freeing of an enslaved person
Probate
A legal filing that provides an accounting of a person’s estate after their death
Removal Registration
A legal filing that registers the removal of an enslaved person from their home state to another state
Tax filing
A legal filing that provides an accounting of property for the purposes of taxation or dispute about taxation
Will
A legal filing outlining a person’s wishes for the disposition of their property upon their death
Life Event Events
Life Event
An event involving an enslaved person that is part of the normal course of a human lifetime
Birth
An event in which a person is born
Burial
An event in which an enslaved person is interred
Death
An event in which an enslaved person dies
Grandparenthood
An event in which an enslaved person becomes a grandparent.
Marriage
An event in which an enslaved person participates in a ritual to mark their commitment to a long term relationship with another person
Parenthood
An event in which an enslaved person becomes a parent
Membership or Participation Events
Membership
An event in which an enslaved person joins or participates in a group
Fraternal organization
An event in which an enslaved person joins a cooperative organization of peers
Military
An event in which an enslaved person joins a segment of armed forces
Mention Events
Mention
An event in which an enslaved person is noted in an unspecified way, e.g. correspondence that notes an encounter
Disappearance
An event in which an enslaved person is missing for an indeterminate reason
Inventory
An event in which an enslaved person is recorded in a list of enslaved people or other property (excluding legal documents)
Provision Events
Provision
An event in which provisions are acquired for use by enslaved people
Clothing
An event in which clothing for an enslaved person is purchased, is bartered for, or is made
Food
An event in which clothing for an enslaved person is purchased, is bartered for, or is prepared
Housing
Supplies
Religious Events
Religious
An event in which an enslaved person participates that is religious in nature, sometimes involving the presence of a member of the clergy
Baptism
An event in which an enslaved person is initiated into a Christian denomination
Communion
An event in which a person participates in the reception of the Eucharist
Confession
An event in which a person confesses their sins to a priest and seeks absolution
Last rites
An event in which a member of the clergy offers a blessing sacrament and final absolution for individuals on the verge of death
Marriage sacrament
An event in which two people are bound in matrimony that is officiated by a member of the clergy
Music
An event in which a person sings or plays an instrument as a form of worship or religious praise
Ordination
An event in which a bishop ordains a person into the priesthood or ministry
Preaching
An event in which a person delivers a sermon or a homily in the context of religious worship
Resistance Events
Resistance
An event in which an enslaved person takes action to resist their status, treatment, or condition, or that of a compatriot
Appeal
A written or oral request for change in treatment or circumstances
Defense
An event in which one person comes to the defense of self or another person
Freedom seeking
An event in which an enslaved person leaves the controlling jurisdiction of their owner permanently or for a time
Property appropriation
An event in which someone appropriates property or provisions that are not technically under their control
Property destruction
An event in which someone purposefully damages someone else’s property
Work slowdown or stoppage
An event in which an enslaved person performs work slowly or not at all
Social interaction Events
Social interaction
An event in which an enslaved person engages with another person outside of the context of a work-related interaction
Celebration
An event in which an enslaved person attends a celebratory gathering
Ceremony (attending)
An event in which an enslaved person attends a communal rite or ritual such as a wedding or a funeral
Dancing
An event in which an enslaved person dances
Drinking alcohol
An event in which an enslaved person consumes alcohol
Gambling
An event in which an enslaved person makes a wager of money or goods on the outcome of an event, game, or sport
Games and sports
An event in which an enslaved person plays a game or engages in a sporting activity
An event in which an enslaved person congregates with others
An event in which an enslaved person plays an instrument or sings
Visit
An event in which an enslaved person travels to meet with another person for non-work-related reason
Travel Events
Travel
An event in which an enslaved person moves from one location to another, often at the behest of an owner or trader
Importation
An event in which an enslaved person of African descent is brought to the Americas, e.g. a transatlantic voyage from an African port to the Chesapeake region via ship
Relocation
An event in which an enslaved person is transferred from one primary residence to another
Temporary
An event in which an enslaved person moves from one location to another for a finite period of time, e.g. the transfer of someone from one farm to another for a work assignment, or the granting of a travel pass for a person to visit family
Violence Events
Violence
An event in which an enslaved person is involved in a violent altercation with a non-enslaved person
Capture
An event in which an enslaved person is apprehended by some external entity, such as a slave patrol
Harassment (verbal)
An event in which a an enslaved person is subjected to ongoing verbal taunting or abuse
Jailing
An event in which an enslaved person is confined by the state or a municipal authority for some wrongdoing or transgression
Medical Experimentation
An event in which an enslaved person is subject to treatment that has the goal of developing an effective treatment for a medical condition or to further scientific research
Perpetrating
An event in which an enslaved person performs a violent act
Physical assault
An event in which an enslaved person is physically harmed by another person, excluding sexual violence
Postmortem abuse
An event in which the body of a deceased enslaved person is used in ways to which they did not consent, e.g. medical or scientific research, etc.
Punishment
An event in which an enslaved person is punished in a way that does not include physical assault, such as increased labor, withholding of provisions
Sexual Assault
An event in which a person subjects an enslaved person to harm that is of a sexual nature, eg. unwanted touching, rape, etc.