Explore Black History

1854

An 124-page hard bound book entitled Memoir of Pierre Toussaint, born a slave in St. Domingo by Hannah Farnham Sawyer Lee. The cover is dark green with a blind-stamped geometrical design on the cover. There are floral motifs on the top and bottom edges of the design and along the outer borders. The spine has gilt lettering and graphics. There are whimsical designs with long curves and flowers along the upper and mid to lower edges. [Pierre / Toussaint / H. F. Lee] is written in a gothic style font along the first quarter of the spine. Particles of the spine are beginning to flake off.
An inscription written on the right side of the endleaf reads [Melvin Lee Steadman / Hamilton, Virginia / July 31, 1966].
A detached engraved portrait frontispiece image with tissue paper covering is laying on top of the title page. It has an illustration of Pierre Toussaint with an inscription written in French with his signature below. The frontispiece and the tissue show signs of aging.
The title page shows the formal title, other works by the author, and the publisher’s information. A former owner, the C. Burr Artz Public Library has also embossed their name on the title page.
Hannah Farnham Sawyer Lee wrote the book using Toussaint's correspondence with various relatives and acquaintances along with personal interactions with Toussaint. In addition to Toussaint's life in St. Domingo, the author also provides information about St. Domingo's economy, political climate, and a brief account of Toussaint L’Ouverture, a well-known leader of the Haitian Revolution. During the unrest on the island, Pierre Toussaint, his sister, Rosalie and their enslaver, John Bérard, moved to New York, where Toussaint was trained as a hairdresser, and soon developed a growing clientele. Following the death of Bérard, Toussaint cared for Bérard’s widow, paying her debts and using his savings to buy her luxuries. Upon her death, she freed Toussaint. Toussaint then purchased his sister and his wife’s freedom. In the memoir, Toussaint does not claim to be an abolitionist, stating that he did not witness violence and bloodshed while he was enslaved. In the remainder of the narrative, he describes the development of his most important relationship, that with his wife, Juliette and his niece, Euphemia who he and his wife adopted early on in her life.
At the end, there is a short appendix which highlights Toussaint’s death announcements from New York newspapers.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Books and Published Materials

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2010.1.259

hardcover books

Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

ink on paper (fiber product), leather, and thread

H x W x D: 7 5/16 × 4 7/8 × 9/16 in. (18.5 × 12.4 × 1.5 cm)

Title • Memoir of Pierre Toussaint: Born a Slave in St. Domingo

nmaahc_2010.1.259

NMAAHC

MEMOIR OF PIERRE TOUSSAINT: BORN A SLAVE IN ST. DOMINGO

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1850s

Toussaint, Pierre • Crosby, Nichols, and Company • Steadman, Melvin Lee • C. Burr Artz Library • Lee, Hannah Farnham Sawyer

New York City • Haiti • United States • North and Central America • Caribbean • Latin America

Slavery • Law • Labor unions • Beauty culture • Family • Emancipation • Urban life

Country • Haiti • Subregion • Caribbean • Region • Latin America • Continent • North and Central America • City • New York City • State • New York • Country • United States

No Known Copyright Restrictions