Miller, laura m letter describing plantation life in south carolina 2 may 1740, by eliza lucas pinckney. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney 1739 1762 download. Daughter of a british army officer, eliza lucas grew up on the caribbean island of antigua but attended finishing school in london. Intriguing letters by one of colonial americas most accomplished women by eliza lucas pinckney, marvin r zahniser editor, elise pinckney editor online at alibris. The indigo girl breathes new life into an absorbing true account of one of south carolinas preeminent historical figures. The papers of eliza lucas pinckney and harriott pinckney horry. Eliza lucas pinckney 17221793 is often credited for the development of the successful indigo industry in the mid1700s in south carolina. Boyd makes commendable use of eliza s prolific and historically revealing correspondence, as recorded in the letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 1739 1762, ed. Intriguing letters by one of colonial americas most accomplished women at. This eliza lucas pinckney dress, newly restored, will be in display march 316 at the charleston museum. In addition to the manuscript volume, the letterbook of eliza.
When 16yearold eliza lucass father was deployed to antigua in 1740, he left the management of his household and three plantations in elizas capable hands. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 w. One of the most distinguished women of colonial america, eliza lucas pinckney pioneered largescale cultivation of indigo in south carolina, managed her. Meet revolutionary woman eliza lucas pinckney starting at age 15, eliza lucas pinckney was a transnational entrepreneur and later deeply embedded in. She was born on 28 december 1722 on antigua in the west indies, but only part of her childhood was spent in that warm climate.
Box 1, folder 4, library of congress, washington, d. Lucas pinckney 17391762, which was published in 1972, the south. After a life of professional and personal success that far exceeded the limitations placed on most colonial women, eliza lucas pinckney died of cancer on may 26, 1793. Eliza wrote 3 volumes of letter books during her lifetime. A direct descendant of eliza lucas pinckney, elise pinckney is the author of thomas and elizabeth lamboll, early charleston gardeners and a former editor of the south carolina historical magazine. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney audiobook victorias. Eliza lucas pinckney died of cancer in philadelphia in 1793. Portrait of an eighteenth century american 209 epistles give a full characterization of the charming young girl who, playfully and possibly unconsciously, was pleased to try on the pamela situation for size. Intriguing letters by one of colonial americas most. She studied french and music, but her favorite subject was botany. Page 3 harriott pinckney horry to eliza lucas pinckney, 7 january 1781, pinckney family papers, box 1, folder 1, library of congress, washington, d. The letter book was passed down from mother to daughter well into the 20th century, at which point the lucaspinckney family donated the letter book to the south carolina historical society. Letter describing plantation life in south carolina 2 may.
A biography of eliza lucas pinckney by frances leigh williams note. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. For that moment, feeser occupied the absence, feeling the drape of old fabric alive with a tracery of indigo plants. Eliza passed her letter book onto her daughter harriott, who in turn passed it to her daughter. This digital collection not only contains the full text of the letterbook, but also contains over 1,000 letters, three travel journals, and a recipe book authored by each. Born in the west indies where her father, a british army officer, was based, she was educated in england and moved with her family to south carolina in 1738.
Sep 21, 2019 eliza lucas pinckney, probably the first important agriculturalist of the united states, realized that the growing textile industry was creating world markets for new dyes. Eliza lucas pinckney was one of the most distinguished women of colonial america, pioneering the largescale cultivation of indigo in south carolina. Starting in 1739, she began cultivating and creating improved strains of the indigo plant, which was being used to dye textiles in the burgeoning manufacturing mills in england. Eliza, fesser says, had designed the garment herself, sometime around 1752. National humanities center the letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762, ed. Education had value to lucas pinckney and she endeavored to share it even with slaves as one of her schemes, as she referred to it in a letter to a friend. Eliza passed her letterbook onto her daughter harriott, who in turn passed it to her daughter.
One of the most distinguished women of colonial america, eliza lucas pinckney pioneered largescale cultivation of indigo in south carolina, managed her fathers extensive plantation holdings, and raised two sons charles cotesworth pinckney and thomas pinckney who would become celebrated patriots of the new nation. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney eliza lucas. Circa 1750 eliza pinckney dress, now restored, to be. President george washington was a pall bearer at her funeral. But eliza lucas pinckney, early and later, is a much more considerable personage than richardsons heroine. Elizabeth lucas pinckney was the exception to many social norms of the 18th century, and has been praised over the decades for her lifes work. Elizabeth eliza lucas pinckney 17221793 find a grave. Eliza lucas pinckney 17221793 revolutionized colonial american agriculture by successfully cultivating commercial indigo dye production in south carolina, and thereby introduced a muchneeded. Eliza lucas pinckney writes to her father in 1741historic letter. Eliza lucas pinckney to harriott pinckney horry, 12 may 1778, pinckney family papers. We can learn how people lived and thought in the past by reading historic letters. The man was tim drake, manager of the historic woodburn plantation and a descendent of eliza lucas pinckney.
Eliza pinckney, charleston county, south carolina genealogy. Feb, 2012 statesman charles pinckney s beliefs helped forge the united states constitution. Jan hiester, curator of textiles, has overseen the restoration project. Her letters reveal an eventful life with myriad interests, changing politics, innovative ideas about slavery, and an unusually happy marriage. In this entry from march of 1741, nineteenyearold eliza describes a letter to her father in which she discusses the plantation she oversaw, the indigo grown, and a neighbor who was causing her some distress. In 1998 eliza was the first women inducted into the south carolina business hall of fame eliza also produced flax, silk, hemp, and figs eliza s indigo was the second cash crop after rice eliza. One of the most distinguished women of colonial america, eliza lucas pinckney pioneered largescale cultivation of indigo in south carolina, managed her fathers extensive plantation holdings, and raised two sonscharles cotesworth pinckney and thomas pinckneywho would become celebrated patriots of the new nation. Eliza lucas pinckney 17221793 eliza lucas, who was born in 1722 in antigua, was 16 when she took charge of her fathers plantation near charles town and successfully managed it. Nov 14, 2014 short biography of indigo planter and colonial entrepreneur eliza lucas pinckney, another example of the enormous contribution the pinckney family of south carolina has made to the history of our. So highly thought of was she for her determination and innovation that president george washington served as one of the pall bearers at her funeral. Colonial plantation manager and mother of american patriots, 17221793 by margaret f. Click download or read online button to get the letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney 1739 1762 book now. As was customary, she recorded her decisions and experiments by copying letters in a letter book. Lemon has used a wide variety of sources including tax lists, probate.
An interview with elise pinckney, a direct descendant of eliza lucas pinckney. Eliza pinckney heroes of the revolution series note. Documents the digital editions of eliza lucas pinckney. Married to charles pinckney eliza pinckney has 4 siblings her sibilings are abi lucas, polly lucas, thomas, and george lucas eliza has 3 children harriot pinckney, george pinckney, charles cotsworth. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney book, 1997 worldcat. Excerpt from the letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney. The letter books were passed down from mother to daughter well into the 20th century, at which point the lucas pinckney family donated the letter book to the south carolina historical society. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that. This letter book is one of the most impressive collections of personal writings of an eighteenthcentury american woman, and gives insight into her mind and society. Eliza lucas pinckney s empowering story of persistence and autonomy in defiance of societal and familial expectations makes for imperative reading. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 book. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 department of. Letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 by elise.
The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 by eliza. Fluent in five languages, yet educated and reared entirely on south carolina soil, this man was elected four times. Pinckney s lively letters reveal intriguing details about an eventful life. Eliza lucas pinckney scetv artist rendition eliza lucas pinckney 17221793 is often credited for the development of the successful indigo industry in the mid1700s in south carolina. The letterbook of eliza lucas pinckney, 17391762 womens.
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