Title: Pleasant Ridge Negro Community Documents
Inclusive Dates: 1848-1993

Call Number: Platteville Mss BH

Quantity: 0.6 cubic feet (3 archives boxes)

Repository:

Housed at the Southwest Wisconsin Room and Area Research Center, Ullsvik Hall, University of Wisconsin-Platteville; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-Platteville Southwest Wisconsin Room / Platteville Area Research Ctr. (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

The Pleasant Ridge Negro community, near Lancaster, in Beetown Township, Grant County, Wisconsin, existed from 1848 to 1959. The collection contains photocopied primary source materials such as photographs, emancipation papers, court documents, and land certificates, along with photocopied newspaper clippings, photographs, genealogies of the Greene (also known as Green), Shepard, and Richmond families, letters, unpublished histories, and memorabilia related to an African-American community and its inhabitants.

Note:

There is a restriction on access to this material. See the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Formerly cataloged as Platteville SC 21.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-pltv00bh

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

 ↑ Bookmark this ↑

Access Restrictions

COLLECTION STORED AT ARC: This collection is not available for loan through the ARC network with the exception of the second copy of documents (Box 2).

Acquisition Information

Portions presented by James V. Edsall, Cross Plains, Wisconsin, 1969; portions by Laura Johnson, Lancaster, Wisconsin, 1980; and portions by others. Accession Number: M69-019, M80-605

Platteville Mss BH Box/Folder   1/1 Item   1	The Pleasant Ridge Negro Colony, a brief Historical Sketch / Rev. James Ethan Allen, 1964 March 19
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   2	From the desk of Dr. Louis C. Smith, citing information relative to cemetery on “Sager” farm in Deeds book, 1963 July 26
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   3	“The Picnics Were Great Events: He's the last man living at Pleasant Ridge,” newspaper clipping, undated
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   4	Photograph of Charles Green at home. State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   5	“Negro Community Now Just a Memory” / Wisconsin State Journal
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   6	Emancipation certificate of Caroline Milford, Prince William County, Virginia, 1850 April 1
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   7	Copy of broadside poster, Autumn Leaf Club Barbeque, 1917 August 4
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   8	Emancipation record of Charles Shepard, Farquier County, Virginia, 1875 September 15
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   9	McCoy Brothers ledger entry for Thomas Greene, Beetown, Wisconsin, 1849 December 9
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   10	“A Lone Descendant of 1832 Negro Migrants into Tri-state Area” / Telegraph-Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, circa 1960s
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   11	“The Harmony at Pleasant Ridge” / Grant County Independent, Lancaster, Wisconsin, undated
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   12	“Old Negro Cemetery 'Tells' Story” / Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin, 1957 August 6
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   13	“His Freedom at Last” / Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, 1977 October 3
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   14	“Black Colony has First Integrated School” / Platteville Journal, Platteville, Wisconsin, 1974 July 12
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   15	“Ex-Slave Tells of Flight to Grant Co. in 1860s,” newspaper clipping
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   16	“Black Settlers Planted Wisconsin 'Roots'” / La Crosse Tribune, 1979 March 5
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   17	“Wisconsin Roots” / Milwaukee Journal, 1977 February 26
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   18	Picture of Pleasant Ridge and Knotwell Sunday Schools Note: See also the Jamison Collection, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Photograph collection.
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   19	“First anniversary in Grant county” / Grant County Herald, 1863 February 10
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   20	“Grant County Rich in Black History” / Exponent, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 1975 February 6
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   21	Biographical note on Jennie Hoffman Mayne Dewey, 1937 Note: From a class paper by Howard P. Mayne, University of Wisconsin-Platteville graduate.
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   22	“Pleasant Ridge Colony, Here and There in Grant County” / Grant County Historical Society newsletter, 1972 September
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   23	Photograph of William, Sarah, and Ollie Greene, 1977 Note: From the Wisconsin Historical Society collection, Black Settlers in Wisconsin.
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   24	“Negro Families in Rural Wisconsin: a study of their community life“ / Governor's Commission on Human Rights, Madison, Wisconsin, pp. 20-21, 1959
Box/Folder   1/1 Item   25	“Cemeteries Only Remains of Black Colony” / Grant County Herald Independent, 1976 August 18
Box/Folder   1/2 Item   26	Letter from president of Autumn Leaf Club to the Bloomington Record, 1934 February 19
Box/Folder   1/2 Item   27	The Autumn Leaf Club / Everett W. Grimes, 1930 April
Box/Folder   1/2 Item   28	“The Black Colony in Grant County” / Pam Irish, Grant County History, 1900-1976, p. 214-216
Box/Folder   1/2 Item   29	“The Negro Colony in Grant County” / Pam Irish , 1975 May 30 Note: Class paper, University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Box/Folder   1/2 Item   30	“A Folk History of Flora Fountain and Pleasant Ridge” / Mrs. Paul Knoke, 1966 August 2 Note: Class paper, Wisconsin State University, Platteville.
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   31	“History of the Negro Pioneer Settlers” / Charles Shepard and other residents Note: See also Charles Shepard Papers, 1850-1958 (Platteville Micro 2; Micro 2).
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   32	“The Shepard Family History”
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   33	“To Be Free and Equal Citizens” / Jeanne Ditter, 1984 December 10 Note: Class paper, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   34	“Negro Colony Near Lancaster” / Grant County Independent, 1936 September
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   35	“Only One Survivor of Negro Colony” / Telegraph Herald, undated
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   36	“Last Member of Freedom Colony Dies” / Grant County Independent, undated
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   37	“Lancaster Slave Settlement's Last Landowner Dies,” newspaper clipping, circa 1946
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   38	“Last Survivor of Unique Colony Dies,” newspaper clipping, circa 1946
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   39	“Lancaster's Oldest Resident Dies, 96” / Wisconsin State Journal, 1946 July 6
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   40	“Porter Became a Millionaire,” newspaper clipping
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   41	“Grim Reaper Takes Toll in Local Homes,” newspaper clipping
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   42	“Examine Dena Area” / Grant County Herald, 1919 November 12
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   43	“Unwritten Law Frees John Greene” / Grant County Herald, 1920 May 12
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   44	“Gadlin's Grave” / Grant County Herald, 1883 July 5
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   45	“Shot in the Back” / Grant County Herald, 1883 June 28
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   46	“Buck-shot Bile” / Grant County Herald, 1883 July 12
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   47	“The Judge Case” / Grant County Herald, 1883 September 27
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   48	“Murder” / Pam Irish, Grant County History, 1900-1976, p. 310
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   49	“Geo. Duncan Shot; Murderer in Jail” / Grant County Herald, 1919 November 5
Box/Folder   1/3 Item   50	Letter to LaVon Hall from Clarice J. Zirk, Janesville, Wisconsin, 1981 August 5
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   51	Bernice Taylour correspondence regarding Duncan Green murder, 1982 June
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   52	Letter from Clarice Zirk to LaVon Hall, 1982
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   53	Letters from Clarice Zirk, 1982
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   54	“Helen Green Dropped Dead” notes
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   55	John Greene, Lila Grime (or Greene), Frances Green, and Amy Greene freedom papers, St. Louis, Missouri, District Headquarters, 1863 October
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   56	Deed to Pleasant Ridge cemetery Note: See also Folder 1, Item 2.
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   57	Charles and Isaac Shepard estate papers, 1881
	Genealogy papers and family group sheets
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   58	Charles Shepard
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   59	Thomas Green
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   60	John Greene
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   61	Isaac Shepard
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   62	John Richmond
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   63	Romulus Richmond
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   64	Grimes
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   65	Charles Green funeral card, 1977 September 28
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   66	“Black Heritage Benefits State” / Wisconsin State Journal, 1981 February 2
	Emancipation papers
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   67	John Greene
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   68	Tom Green
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   69	Lilla Greene
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   70	Frances Greene
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   71	Amy Greene
Box/Folder   1/4 Item   72	Letter from Laura Johnson to Mrs. Jack Holzhueter, 1980 November 15
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   73	Photocopies of tombstone photographs, Pleasant Ridge cemetery, 1979 July 26 Note: Photographs by Kordillia Johnson, University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   74	Richmond v. Taylor, et al., 1912 December 12-1913 January 7
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   75	Pages from Green family Bible, including births, deaths, civil war service (Shepard, Green, Gadlin, Grimes, et al.) Note: Original Bible held by Grant County Historical Society.
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   76	“Escaped Slavery, Negro Now 86” / Platteville Journal, 1948 July 8
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   77	Pleasant Ridge School souvenir, 1912 Note: Teacher Maude Quick.
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   78	Pleasant Ridge School souvenir, 1916 Note: Teacher Maude Quick.
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   79	“Annual Barbecue Given at the Thomas Green Home,” Muscoda Progressive, 1926 August 12
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   80	“Black families have left, but warmth remains in... Pleasant Ridge” / Telegraph Herald, 1987 August
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   81	“Negro Settlement in State Dwindled to One Woman” / Milwaukee Journal, circa 1966
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   82	“The Beetown Example Where Diversity Worked” / Telegraph Herald, 1993 February 28-March 3
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   83	“Pleasant Ridge Colony” / by Mark Sethne (class papers, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Professor Thomas B. Lundeen), 1987
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   84	“Black Farming Community Thrived in Grant County During 1800s” / Boscobel Dial, Boscobel, Wisconsin, 1994 February 3
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   85	“The Day When Cheyenne Valley Was Home of Ex-Slaves” / Grant County Herald, 1935 November 27
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   86	“Echoes of Pleasant Ridge” / by Celeste Williams, Milwaukee Journal, 1994 February 13
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   87	“Pleasant Memories” / by Rochell Denise Thomas, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin, 1994 February 28
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   88	“Early Negroes,” undated
Box/Folder   1/5 Item   89	Information sheet containing picture of Gertrude and Earl Grimes and Verna Green, Cunningham Museum, Lancaster, Wisconsin
Box/Folder   2/1-5 Item   1-89	Duplicate copies of items in Box 1
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   90	Contents list/case file
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   91	Correspondence, newspaper articles, pamphlets, and an invitation relating to the Pleasant Ridge African-American Exhibit and Project, Old World Wisconsin
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   92	Letter from Thomas A. Woods, Director of Old World Wisconsin, to Mary Freymiller, Wisconsin Room Curator, 2000 December 20 Note: Includes two photos of Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   93	Memoranda and emails between Tom Woods and Mary Freymiller, 1998, 2000
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   94	Memorandum and emails between Jerry Daniels, UW-Platteville, and Tom Woods, Old World Wisconsin, 1998 September 26, 28
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   95	Letter from Thomas A. Woods to Mary Freymiller, 1998 June 9
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   96	Email from Tom Woods to Jerry Daniels, 1998 June 8
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   97	Area Research Center request from Chris to Mary Freymiller, 1998 April 23
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   98	Emails between Mary Freymiller and Tom Woods, 1997-1998
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   99	Email from Tom Woods to Mary Freymiller, 1997 November 18
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   100	Inventory for Pleasant Ridge Negro Community documents, 1848-1993
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   101	Invitation and reservation card for the dedication and grand opening of the Pleasant Ridge African-American Exhibit at Old World Wisconsin, 1998 September 26
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   102	Small advertisement for grand opening of exhibit, 1998 September 26
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   103	“Old World Wisconsin, Pleasant Ridge, African-American Exhibit” pamphlet and dedication/grand opening schedule, 1998 September
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   104	“A Feast of Memories” / by Chris Martell, Wisconsin State Journal, 1998 September 20
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   105	“Old Negro Cemetery 'Tells' Story” / by Ida Lloyd Crichton, Wisconsin State Journal, 1957 August 6
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   106	“Lancaster Slave Settlement's Last Landowner Dies” / Wisconsin State Journal, 1959 February 23
Box/Folder   3/1 Folder   1 Item   107	“Black Cemetery Focus of Project” / by Sandye Voight, Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, 1997 May 6
Box/Folder   3/2 Folder   2 Item   108	“Pleasant Ridge, An African American Settlement in Wisconsin” / by Jenny Stevenson (class paper)
Box/Folder   3/2 Folder   2 Item   109	“Women of Pleasant Ridge, a Rural Community in Wisconsin” / by Jennifer Stevenson (Independent Study 4720, Professor Hellert)
Box/Folder   3/2 Item   110	“A Folk History of Flora Fountain and Pleasant Ridge – also known as Slab Town and Darky Ridge” / by Mrs. Paul Knoke, (Wisconsin Studies 600, Dr. Gamble), 1966 August 2
Box/Folder   3/2 Item   111	“A History of Black Settlers in Grant County, Wisconsin” / by Abraham J. Martin, 2014 February 6
Box/Folder   3/3 Item   112	“The Importance of Religion at Pleasant Ridge,” from “Pleasant Ridge: A Rural African American Community in Grant County Wisconsin” / by Shawn Godwin, Old World Wisconsin, 1998