Writing History: Stories of a Rare Manuscript Collection
The Statesman, the Singer, and the Scandal That Shocked Georgian Society
Posted by Jessica Katz on
What happens when a powerful statesman dies, leaving behind a financial mess, hostile relatives, and a mistress fighting for her survival? Explore the scandalous 18th-century saga of the 2nd Earl of Halifax and Anna Maria Faulkner, told through the firsthand accounts of the men hired to clean up the wreckage. Step inside a newly surfaced 1771 manuscript diary that documents a bitter estate dispute, Georgian high-society drama, and the literal burning of history.
Chasing George Davis: A Research Journey to Find the Well-Connected Ghost of Lewis County and NYC
Posted by Jessica Katz on
Discover the month-long research journey to identify the owner of an 1810–1827 accounting ledger. Follow the historical paper trail that revealed George Davis, a mysterious New York shipmaster and merchant connected to Wall Street founders, elite kinship networks, and a massive 1820s bank fraud scandal.
- Tags: 19th century, research
Tale of Two Diaries: Two Pieces of Incredible African American History Discovered 10 Years Apart!
Posted by Jessica Katz on
We are excited to share the story of Venecia Taylor's 1904-1908 diary, discovered 10 years after her 1902-1904 diary was purchased and restored by the founder of our business. Both diaries provide important insight into the experience of a Black female immigrant working as a servant in white homes in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.
- Tags: African American
Macao to Havana and Beyond: The Chinese-Cuban Coolie Trade - Indentured Labor (or Pseudo-Slavery) from 1847-1874
Posted by Jessica Katz on
The Chinese coolie trade, a system of indentured labor that targeted young, poor Chinese men, operated from 1847-1874. Throughout this period, African slavery was slowly being abolished around the world. The coolie trade was initiated by Britain and was eventually dominated by both Britain and the United States of America. Chinese coolie laborers were sent to work in British, American and Spanish colonies, and the nature of the trade changed throughout its 27-year operation, due to social and political pressures. The coolie trade took place, in large part, between the shipping port in Macao (now a part of China, then under Portuguese rule) and Havana, Cuba (then under Spanish control). This article will explore the WHAT, WHO, WHERE, WHEN, WHY and HOW of the coolie trade in general with a special focus on Macao-Havana trade.
- Tags: china cuba
Coming Soon to Katz Fine Manuscripts....
Posted by Jessica Katz on
We are excited to launch our new blog, which will help connect researchers, collectors and students with simplified, academically researched posts describing complex, lesser known moments in world history.
- Tags: china cuba