Attachment link: http://memory.loc.gov/mss/mfd/47/47001/0001d.jpg
From looking at the map, one can infer the intentions of Frederick Douglass. Because he owned a map of Talbot County, a location he has spent much of his life as a slave, a place where he experienced many of the events in his story, shows his interest in escaping. The map is in near perfect condition, which indicates how Douglass cherished it for his goals. It shows that he needs it and that it is a valuable resource to his plans. From this, one can see the dedication and resilience Douglass possessed to achieve his objective: to free himself and others from the entrapment of slavery.
Double post…
I think the fact that Douglass chose to keep a map of his birthplace and the place where he spent his childhood shows how sentimental he is.
Honestly, I really wish this map had a date. This could have been purchased after he escaped, so there’s no way to know for sure that this was used to help him leave.
While I would agree that the map infers that the map was important to Douglas, I disagree with the reasoning as to why it was important and your assumption as to when he owned the map. As a slave he wouldn’t have been able to own a map for the very obvious reason you stated, he could use it to escape. While it is possible that he owned the map as a slave, the excellent condition would lead me to believe differently. Had he owned the map as a slave, he would’ve needed to hide it on many occasions and it would’ve become worn. Additionally, the map is only of Talbot County. A map of the adjoining area would’ve been more desirable
I think it is likely he obtained this map after he was free, as a means of remembering where he came from and inspiring his fight for fellow slaves.
I think the fact that Douglass chose to keep a map of his birthplace and the place where he spent his childhood shows how sentimental he is.
Honestly, I really wish this map had a date. This could have been purchased after he escaped, so there’s no way to know for sure that this was used to help him leave.
While I would agree that the map infers that the map was important to Douglas, I disagree with the reasoning as to why it was important and your assumption as to when he owned the map. As a slave he wouldn’t have been able to own a map for the very obvious reason you stated, he could use it to escape. While it is possible that he owned the map as a slave, the excellent condition would lead me to believe differently. Had he owned the map as a slave, he would’ve needed to hide it on many occasions and it would’ve become worn. Additionally, the map is only of Talbot County. A map of the adjoining area would’ve been more desirable
I think it is likely he obtained this map after he was free, as a means of remembering where he came from and inspiring his fight for fellow slaves.
I think the fact that Douglass chose to keep a map of his birthplace and the place where he spent his childhood shows how sentimental he is.
Honestly, I really wish this map had a date. This could have been purchased after he escaped, so there’s no way to know for sure that this was used to help him leave.
I don’t think that the map was so much an instrument of his escape, or even a symbol of his desire to escape, as much as an every day object. This seems to me to be a general map of the area that a normal slave might have in order to fulfill the tasks set down on him by his master. For instance, if Douglass’ master had ordered him to go to the next town over to pick up a load of grain, it would be logical for him to have a map for such navigational purposes.
The assumption that this map “shows his interest in escaping” seems, to me, unfounded. Indeed, we have already established the fact that Douglass was extremely intelligent, so it would make sense that Douglass’ tools for escaping slavery would not be manifested in a physical form (such as a map) that could be confiscated by an overseer or other white man, intent on making sure that Douglass should not escape bondage.
I don’t think that the map was so much an instrument of his escape, or even a symbol of his desire to escape, as much as an every day object. This seems to me to be a general map of the area that a normal slave might have in order to fulfill the tasks set down on him by his master. For instance, if Douglass’ master had ordered him to go to the next town over to pick up a load of grain, it would be logical for him to have a map for such navigational purposes.
The assumption that this map “shows his interest in escaping” seems, to me, unfounded. Indeed, we have already established the fact that Douglass was extremely intelligent, so it would make sense that Douglass’ tools for escaping slavery would not be manifested in a physical form (such as a map) that could be confiscated by an overseer or other white man, intent on making sure that Douglass should not escape bondage.
I agree that Fredrick Douglass cared greatly about escaping, but it is important to remember one thing. While he was in Talbot County, Douglass really had no idea that escaping was even an option since he lived there at a very young age and it was not until he was in Baltimore that such desires began to materialize as a reality.
From this analysis, it seems like the map had been in his posession since residing in Talbot County. However, the map is labelled to be made in Baltimore. It gives me some doubt that he kept the map with him throughout his slavery, since there is an even less likelihood that he would understand what the piece of paper actually was since he did not learn to read until much later.
Still, I agree that owning the map must mean that he does not ignore his past. Perhaps he had obtained it so that he may determine where he had lived and grown in his youth. Many feel that their past leads to a brighter future. Owning such an article, it can be considered that Mr. Douglass was one of those many.
I agree that Fredrick Douglass cared greatly about escaping, but it is important to remember one thing. While he was in Talbot County, Douglass really had no idea that escaping was even an option since he lived there at a very young age and it was not until he was in Baltimore that such desires began to materialize as a reality.
From this analysis, it seems like the map had been in his posession since residing in Talbot County. However, the map is labelled to be made in Baltimore. It gives me some doubt that he kept the map with him throughout his slavery, since there is an even less likelihood that he would understand what the piece of paper actually was since he did not learn to read until much later.
Still, I agree that owning the map must mean that he does not ignore his past. Perhaps he had obtained it so that he may determine where he had lived and grown in his youth. Many feel that their past leads to a brighter future. Owning such an article, it can be considered that Mr. Douglass was one of those many.
I don’t think that the map was so much an instrument of his escape, or even a symbol of his desire to escape, as much as an everyday object. This seems to me to be a general map of the area that a normal slave might have in order to fulfill the tasks set down on him by his master. For instance, if Douglass’ master had ordered him to go to the next town over to pick up a load of grain, it would be logical for him to have a map for such navigational purposes.
The assumption that this map “shows his interest in escaping” seems, to me, unfounded. Indeed, we have already established the fact that Douglass was extremely intelligent, so it would make sense that Douglass’ tools for escaping slavery would not be manifested in a physical form (such as a map) that could be confiscated by an overseer or other white man, intent on making sure that Douglass should not escape bondage.
I don’t think that the map was so much an instrument of his escape, or even a symbol of his desire to escape, as much as an everyday object. This seems to me to be a general map of the area that a normal slave might have in order to fulfill the tasks set down on him by his master. For instance, if Douglass’ master had ordered him to go to the next town over to pick up a load of grain, it would be logical for him to have a map for such navigational purposes.
The assumption that this map “shows his interest in escaping” seems, to me, unfounded. Indeed, we have already established the fact that Douglass was extremely intelligent, so it would make sense that Douglass’ tools for escaping slavery would not be manifested in a physical form (such as a map) that could be confiscated by an overseer or other white man, intent on making sure that Douglass should not escape bondage.
In addition to making a statement about Frederick Douglass’ intentions to escape from Talbot, the map also provides information about the time period in which Douglass lived as a whole, as well as the atmostphere of the county in which he was enslaved. First, the map was made in Baltimore, Frederick references moving to Baltimore as a very positiv change in his life, this map speaks to the cultural change Douglass must have gone through moving from a farm in a more rural area (the map shows Talbot to be fairly small and have little other than a school, farms, and churches) to Baltimore–clearly a city where craftsmen (i.e. cartographers) lived and worked. The number of churches shown on the map (three, I think) implied to me that the county was probably very religious on the whole, a conditin which Frederick wrote made life worse for slaves. In addition, the map had an ad on it leading me to believe that during Douglass’ life maps were probably bought somewhat commonly, as they must have been seen by the public often, or else they would not be very useful for advertising.
I thought that the claim that Douglass’ posession of a map meant that he wanted to escape was a little bit of a jump given that I could find no date on the map. Due to this, there is really no way to know when Douglass procured the map–as a slave or a freeman.
In addition to making a statement about Frederick Douglass’ intentions to escape from Talbot, the map also provides information about the time period in which Douglass lived as a whole, as well as the atmostphere of the county in which he was enslaved. First, the map was made in Baltimore, Frederick references moving to Baltimore as a very positiv change in his life, this map speaks to the cultural change Douglass must have gone through moving from a farm in a more rural area (the map shows Talbot to be fairly small and have little other than a school, farms, and churches) to Baltimore–clearly a city where craftsmen (i.e. cartographers) lived and worked. The number of churches shown on the map (three, I think) implied to me that the county was probably very religious on the whole, a conditin which Frederick wrote made life worse for slaves. In addition, the map had an ad on it leading me to believe that during Douglass’ life maps were probably bought somewhat commonly, as they must have been seen by the public often, or else they would not be very useful for advertising.
I thought that the claim that Douglass’ posession of a map meant that he wanted to escape was a little bit of a jump given that I could find no date on the map. Due to this, there is really no way to know when Douglass procured the map–as a slave or a freeman.
I am not sure that Douglass would have owned a map while he was a slave in Talbot county. Firstly, I do not know how he would have gotten his hands on a map without his master seeing. Furthermore, if his master found out, im sure he would have confiscate it. I believe Douglass escaped from Baltimore.
I suspect Douglass got his hands on the map after he had escaped, possibly as he was looking back at his life. This map is an Attorneys of farms for sale in Talbot and surrounding counties. We can assume that Douglass used this for other purposes than trying to buy a farm. However, im not sure what goals we can know he used it for.
Finally, this map has a highly decorated boarder, which shows the value of such a hand drawn map in that time period.
I am not sure that Douglass would have owned a map while he was a slave in Talbot county. Firstly, I do not know how he would have gotten his hands on a map without his master seeing. Furthermore, if his master found out, im sure he would have confiscate it. I believe Douglass escaped from Baltimore.
I suspect Douglass got his hands on the map after he had escaped, possibly as he was looking back at his life. This map is an Attorneys of farms for sale in Talbot and surrounding counties. We can assume that Douglass used this for other purposes than trying to buy a farm. However, im not sure what goals we can know he used it for.
Finally, this map has a highly decorated boarder, which shows the value of such a hand drawn map in that time period.
When examining this artifact, what caught my attention the most was not that the map was in very good condition (which is an interesting fact you pointed out), but that the map very clearly shows railroads and ports. These kinds of maps were probably very useful in planning an escape route for himself and others (something you also stated). There are not really any assumptions you made that I would say was unsupported, I can see where you are coming from.
Another thing i found interesting was the “Farms for sale..” advertisement at the bottom right, and that on the map there are a lot of schools and churches.
When examining this artifact, what caught my attention the most was not that the map was in very good condition (which is an interesting fact you pointed out), but that the map very clearly shows railroads and ports. These kinds of maps were probably very useful in planning an escape route for himself and others (something you also stated). There are not really any assumptions you made that I would say was unsupported, I can see where you are coming from.
Another thing i found interesting was the “Farms for sale..” advertisement at the bottom right, and that on the map there are a lot of schools and churches.