Freedmen’s Bureau Circular Letter on Local Government Aid, Georgia
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a single circular letter issued by the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Office of the Assistant Commissioner for the State of Georgia, dated October 2, 1867. The letter, authored by F.D. Sewall, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, was originally written in Washington, D.C., on September 16, 1867, and directed to Bvt. Brig. Gen. C.C. Sibley. The document mandates local authorities in Georgia to provide aid to all impoverished individuals, regardless of race, and suggests the possibility of federal intervention should local governments fail to meet this obligation.
Dates
- Creation: 1867-10-02
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers are responsible for using the materials in conformance with United States copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright claimants in collection materials. Copyright for official University records is held by The University of Alabama. The library claims only physical ownership of many manuscript collections. Anyone wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of literary property rights or copyrights. Please contact Special Collections (archives@ua.edu) with questions regarding specific manuscript collections.
For more information about copyright policy, please visit: https://www.ua.edu/copyright/. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals without the consent of those individuals may have legal implications, for which the University of Alabama assumes no responsibility.
Biographical / Historical
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, commonly known as the Freedmen's Bureau, was established in 1865 under the U.S. War Department to assist formerly enslaved individuals and impoverished white citizens in the post-Civil War South. Tasked with overseeing labor contracts, education, legal disputes, and welfare provisions, the Bureau played a crucial role in Reconstruction. In Georgia, Assistant Commissioner C.C. Sibley oversaw the Bureau’s operations, including efforts to ensure equitable distribution of aid. The 1867 circular letter reflects the Bureau's attempts to enforce local government responsibility for public welfare while reserving federal intervention as a last resort. Despite its efforts, the Bureau faced significant resistance from local authorities and was ultimately disbanded in 1872.
Extent
1.02 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The University of Alabama Libraries acquired the Freedmen’s Bureau Circular Letter on Local Government Aid, Georgia from Langdon Manor Books in 2021.
Physical Description
The circular is printed on a single sheet (7 1/2 x 4 7/8 inches) and remains in near fine condition, with minor punctures and a vertical crease. No copies of this document are recorded in OCLC.
Processing Information
Processed by Courtney Tutt, March 2025.
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Freedmen’s Bureau Circular Letter on Local Government Aid, Georgia
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Courtney Tutt, March 2025.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository