Research
|
The Museum in Docklands (Sainsbury Study Centre) holds a selection of material that might be of interest to you if you are researching the West Indies Trade or Slavery. This includes primary research material and a small number of reference books. Click on the links below to find out more.
If you wish to carry out research in the Sainsbury Study Centre you need to book in advance. Please visit our Sainsbury Study Centre pages.
|
Mills Archive
The surviving papers of the plantation and slave owners Thomas and John Mills, consists of seven letter books dated between 1752 – 1777, two journals of activity on the Mills Plantation on St Kitts in 1776 and 1777, and sundry loose letters.
The archive itself is too fragile to sustain frequent handling, but the museum has had high quality facsimile copies made for the use of researchers. The two following links will give you a general introduction to the contents of the papers, and a list of the recipients of correspondence.
West India Merchants Papers (1 vol) and The Vaughan Papers (4 vols)
These two fascinating collections contain an array of miscellaneous material relating to the West Indies trade and the West India Dock company, dating between around 1790-1817. The papers contain no material relating directly to slavery or the slave trade, but a wealth of material relating to the importation to London of produce from the plantation colonies in the West Indies, the handling of cargoes etc.
The West India Merchants Papers appear to have been assembled by George Tennant who later became the Accountant to the West India Dock Company.
The Vaughan Papers consist of papers collected by the campaigner William Vaughan (c.1752-1850.)
West India Dock Company records
These unique records consist of over 100 minute books and ledgers recording the establishment and running of the West India Dock Company from 1799 -1838. They include information on Directors and company officers, purchase of land, dock construction, as well as detail on the maintenance and administration of the company.
A basic listing of volume date and title is available in the search room to help you select the material you need.
Relevant books available for reference in the study centre
The Sainsbury Study Centre also has a small collection of books relating to Slavery and the Slave Trade, and the following CD-Rom’s for the use of researchers:
- the first edition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database,
- the Letter Books of the slave trading company Lascelles and Maxwell, 1739-1769
- Record of the Prospect Estate in Jamaica 1780-1799 – a plantation owned by the London-based Stephen Attlay.
Visit the Sainsbury Study centre – for details on how to book appointments, opening times, contact us etc