James M. Priest papers, 1837-1846

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Summary

Creator:
Priest, James M., approximately 1816-1883 and John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and Culture
Abstract:
James M. Priest was a formerly enslaved person who moved permanently to Liberia, where he served as Presbyterian missionary in King Will's Town, and later Greenville. Collection comprises a letter in a newspaper and five other letters writen by Priest, primarily to members of the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church, but also to a ship's captain, and a fellow minister.
Extent:
0.2 Linear Feet (10 items)
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.13037

Background

Scope and content:

Collection comprises a letter in a newspaper and five other letters writen by Priest, primarily to members of the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church, but also to a ship's captain, and a fellow minister. Topics include monetary and other support needed for his ministry and family, his work with the "Kroo people," conditions in Monrovia, receipt or lack of supplies, and deaths of ministers in Liberia. The newspaper letter by Priest requests monetary support for his return to the United States for his theological studies.

Biographical / historical:

James M. Priest was born ca. 1816 in Paris, Kentucky.; he died in 1883. He was an enslaved person who was given a theological education in Indiana by Jane Anderson Meaux, his enslaver, who freed all of her enslaved people on the condition that they would emigrate to Liberia. Priest was freed to go to Liberia in 1835 with his wife, who was also a freed enslaved person. In 1843 they moved permanently to Liberia, where he served as Presbyterian missionary in King Will's Town, and later Greenville. He became the Liberian vice-president, 1864-1868; and then associate justice of the Liberian Supreme Court.

Acquisition information:
The James M. Priest papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2012, 2023 and 2024.
Processing information:

Processed by Alice Poffinberger, November, 2023

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2012-0241, 2023-0181, 2024-0021

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], James M. Priest papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1r741