Their lives
our history
our history
Take a walk through early American life as it unfolds through the words of those who lived it. Learn accounts of day-to-day life and iconic events in our nation’s history through the lens of historic letters and materials.
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Featured Subjects
Subjects enable you to browse and group historic materials by person, events, and historic themes to discover more.
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Gardening
The extensive gardens at Teackle Mansion, inspired by the landscaping at Chatelherault Park in Glasgow and Ashcraig on Scotland’s West Coast, provided a lush background for a grand home, featuring jonquils, hyacinths, geraniums and roses.
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Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837
Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, the main author among the letter writers in the Collection, displays her wit and intelligence through her portrayals of life on the Eastern Shore.
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Eyre Hall
Descendants of the Eyre family have lived on and owned Eyre Hall for over 400 years. It is one of a small handful of such properties in the country that can claim such consistent family proprietorship. A group of courageous enslaved people launched their bid for freedom when they piloted a whaleboat from Eyre Hall to New York City in 1832. Built on the eve of the American Revolution, the public can still visit Eyre Hall’s renowned gardens.
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Wars - War of 1812 - 1812-1815
This conflict between the United States and Great Britain, sparked by maritime disputes and territorial expansion, tested our young nation’s resilience and shaped our national identity. Found in the letters are references to skirmishes and battles on the Chesapeake, and enslaved people self-emancipating to the British side of the conflict.
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Hotels - Fountain Inn
Standing at the corner of Light Street and E. Baltimore, the Fountain Inn in Baltimore served travelers from 1776-1871, including George Washington and his staff before the Battle of Yorktown. Littleton D. Teackle often stayed at this inn while conducting business in Baltimore.
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Fashion
Clothing, shoes, bonnets, and jewelry all held an important place in the life of the Teackles. From pelisse and spatterdashers to tippets and baleen stays, explore the world of 19th century fashion.
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Enslavement - Enslaved people
The Teackles, Eyres, and their peers profited from the institution of slavery. Enslaved people of all ages and genders were forced into unpaid labor without the prospect of freedom for the benefit of their enslavers’ lavish lifestyle.
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Upshur, Abel Parker, 1790-1844
In 1790, Abel Parker Upshur was born into one of Virginia’s most prominent conservative planter families – a background he defended at state, federal, and international levels as U.S. Secretary of State. As first cousins, he and Elizabeth Upshur Teackle shared a close relationship.
About the voices
The Voices of the Eastern Shore project supports scholarship and learning by providing access to historical materials online. The documents undergo a multi-step process to carefully transcribe, subject tag, and annotate the materials to enable learners and researchers to make connections to history.