New Plaque Recognizes Nation's Largest Sale of Enslaved People
A new plaque marks the site of the largest sale of enslaved people in U.S. history.
Above (l–r): Bernard Powers, Margaret Seidler, Lauren Davila ’21 (M.A. ’23), Stephen and Mary Kathryn Schmutz and Harold Singletary. (Photos by Catie Cleveland)
On Oct. 11, 2024, the College of Charleston’s Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston unveiled a plaque at 24 Broad Street in downtown Charleston to mark the site of a former slave-trading firm that handled the largest sale of enslaved people in U.S. history.
The bronze plaque has been attached to the building that was once the office of Jervey, Waring, and White during the 19th century. Two years ago, College of Charleston graduate student Lauren Davila ’21 (M.A. ’23) discovered the existence of the auction while working on an internship assignment. During her research, she found a newspaper classified ad from Feb. 24, 1835, that announced the auction of 600 enslaved people in Charleston.
RELATED: Read more about Lauren Davila’s discovery.
The new plaque notes, “During the years 1828-1840, James Jervey, Morton A. Waring and Alonzo White operated a slave trading firm from this building.” The plaque goes on to describe the details of the 1835 auction.
“Our overall goal is to identify multiple locations where the domestic slave trade occurred in Charleston,” says Bernard Powers, director of the CSSC. “We want people to understand the enormous role that slavery played in the country’s development. Many, unfortunately, think that slavery was a mere footnote to America’s history. We argue that it was interwoven throughout the main text. Indeed, the main story cannot be understood without this essential ingredient.”
The new plaque is attached to the building currently occupied by the Schmutz & Schmutz Law Firm.
