Black female landowners in Richmond, Virginia 1850-1877

Abstract

"This thesis traces rates of black female landownership in the city of Richmond, Virginia between the years 1850 and 1877. It uses a variety of different sources, including census records and land tax records, to calculate the amount of land owned during this time period. Information pertaining to occupation and marital status are included within this study. For some women, property acted as a vehicle for greater economic stability and social mobility. For instance, many female landowners were able to leverage their property to open businesses, support their families, and purchase additional property. But landownership also hurt other women in these same attempts - the economic burdens of property ownership placed on some free black women proved detrimental and difficult to overcome. While there was an overall increase in the amount of black female landownership between 1850 and 1877, this study also highlights the individual experiences of property ownership across this period."