Mar 20 at 10:30 AM - Sale 2697 -
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Sale 2697 - Lot 27

Estimate: $ 600 - $ 900
(AFRICA.) Antero J. Barboza. Letter by Henry Highland Garnet's son-in-law, requesting support of the family's school in Liberia. Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs. Mary Nash Agnew (1830-1918), 8 x 5 inches, on the integral blank of a printed circular letter promoting the Industrial School at Brewerville, Liberia; mailing folds, minimal wear. New York, 18 November 1886
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Additional Details

The printed circular letter announces that "Rev. Dr. Henry Highland Garnet's son-in-law, Mr. A.J. Barboza, who has been living in Liberia for nearly six years, proposes to add to his wife's Girl's School an Industrial Department for boys. He will conduct a Farm on which to raise supplies for the School so as to aim to make it self-supporting. The Boys will be taught practical Agriculture and some of the trades. Mrs. Barboza proposes in time to have the Laundry, Kitchen, and Sewing room work done by the girls." The names of 5 New York references are provided, and aid from "the friends of Africa" is requested. Barboza was at the Shiloh Presbyterian Church until his return to Liberia.

On the blank leaf, Barboza wrote a personal note to a woman who had recently been appointed as one of New York's school commissioners, in hopes that she might make a contribution to his school.

Antero José Barboza (1841-1897) was a native of Brazil and is thought to be one of the earliest Black employees of the United States Treasury Department, working as a messenger from 1867 to 1869. He was later a New York postal clerk from 1877 to 1880. His wife Mary Garnet Barboza (1845-1890) was the daughter of the famed minister and activist Henry Highland Garnet. The Barbozas went to Liberia in 1881. Rev. Garnet followed them there in December 1881 to serve as the United States Minister to Liberia, but died of malaria just a few weeks after his arrival.

We find no other examples of the circular letter.

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