While dismantling parts of the house for excavation and architectural study, an incredible find surfaced. Wedged behind the insulation in the attic wall, awaiting discovery, were dozens of Robinson family account ledgers, letters, bills, and invoices – some dating back to the 1830s.

Despite being worn and yellowed by time, the documents provide invaluable information about James Robinson’s business transactions. These papers, often referred to as the Robinson Papers, supply evidence of the ways in which free African Americans negotiated their difficult social and economic circumstances and attest to the strength and resiliency of the human spirit.