The Tradition of Slavery in Harvard's Faculty

This is an entry from Benjamin Wadsworth’s diary. Wadsworth lived from 1696 to 1737, was the pastor of the First Church of Boston from 1693 to 1725, and the 8th president of Harvard College from 1725 to 1737. In this diary entry Wadsworth discusses his purchase of a black woman named Venus. He refers to Venus as a “negro wench.” Wadsworth’s prominent role in the early foundations of Cambridge as well as his role as a religious leader can be seen as an example of the attitude many settler’s held at the time towards people of color and the slave trade. (Wadsworth, Benjamin. 1696. Papers of Benjamin Wadsworth, 1696-1736. Harvard University Archives.)

Alongside his diary entries, I would also include this portrait of Benjamin Wadsworth. Placing the entries around the portrait would exemplify how Harvard’s presentation of Wadsworth glorified him but did not acknowledge or condemn his actions. ("Benjamin Wadsworth (1669/70-1737) (Unidentified Artist) (Benjamin Wadsworth) , H3,” Harvard Art Museums collections.)

Finally, I would include this portrait of Increase Mather, another Harvard president who owned slaves. This portrait would further emphasize the pattern of faculty involvement in the slave trade in the early history of Harvard. When contemporary students look upon these portraits, the atrocity of Harvard’s faculty involvement in slave trade would not be apparent but upon viewing the diary entry, students would then see Harvard’s complacency in the slave trade early on. (Portrait of Increase Mather, by John van der Spriett, 1688. Courtesy of Harvard University Archives.)


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