Swedish Colonial News Volume 4, Number 4 Summer 2011 Preserving the legacy of the New Sweden Colony in America Pehr (Peter) Kalm: Race Relations in the 18th Century Lawrence Backlund, Ph.D. Pehr (Peter) Kalm visited the Delaware Valley in North America from 1748-51 to collect plants and seeds for the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus on an expedition financed by the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences. He proved to be an avid collector, intrepid traveler, and observant commentator. Kalm befriended Benjamin Franklin and the botanist John Bartram, visited and measured Niagara Falls, and ministered to a Lutheran congregation in Swedesboro, New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. In the 1750s, he published three volumes on his experiences, including some remarks on the black population of the Delaware Valley and Philadelphia. Kalm’s observations are of some value. This Swedish “gentleman” reported everything he was told and saw. Scholars agree on this: a 19th century Canadian described him as “un narrateur fidèle,” while his latest biographer in fact called Kalm “gullible” as a result. He faithfully recorded nearly everything he was told, even outlandish tales that may have been jests. Yet, because he witnessed the black community before the massive influx of African slaves in the late 18th century, his testimony provides a unique opportunity to glean insights into Philadelphia’s black community before the American Revolution. Several problems arise when examining what Kalm reported about the black population. One was a lack of statistical data. It seemed to have frustrated him that official statistics on the slave trade did not exist. Another was Kalm’s personal attitude regarding slavery, which may have affected both how he “saw” things and his writing. His recent biographer, Paula Ivaska Robbins, asserted that Kalm seems to have passively accepted the institution of slavery, while a Swedish scholar, Gunnar Tibell, has perceived “great empathy towards the black population.” Regardless of his attitude regarding slavery, Kalm made some carefully formulated and ultimately noteworthy remarks regarding the treatment of blacks. These are found in several places in his Travels into North America, which appeared in English continued on page 2 In this Issue... EXHIBIT EVENTS 6 Gunnarsson/ 10 Forde/Beatty Nilsson New Colonial HISTORIC Sweden Gallery EXHIBIT Wedding 4 ARTIFACTS 8 New Sweden 1704 Björk Center Panels Book Found HISTORY from page 1 Lawrence Backlund, Ph.D. translation in 1770. although how the slave had slain the badger is What did he see? What was he told? What not specified. It was obviously a rare thing to did he conclude about Philadelphia’s black arm slaves. community in the mid-18th century? It was also rare to “manumit” or free slaves. Blacks and whites in mid-18th century He discussed “manumission” when commenting Philadelphia lived lives that were at least partially on the question of Quakers and slavery. The separate. This was so even in death. Because Quakers, Kalm reluctantly noted, had “recently” Kalm was a student of theology as well as the given up their “scruples” and there had been a natural sciences and would later be ordained, he changed attitude regarding slavery—or so Kalm mentioned the denominations in Philadelphia had been told. He recorded that the Quakers and their churches in his journal entry for were “no longer so nice: they have as many September 16, 1748. He was especially Negroes as other people.” This attitude had impressed by the Quakers and the religious given rise to a crisis of conscience among many toleration introduced by William Penn. He Quakers, most of whom retained their described the churches and their graveyards, “scruples.” noting that some denominations “bury their Kalm obviously regretted this changed dead in their church-yards,” next to the attitude on the part of some of the Quakers, churches, common practice in the Swedish who earlier had freed many blacks or refused to Lutheran Church. “The Negroes,” he tersely traffick in slaves. Now even Quakers were noted, “are buried in a particular place out of reluctant to free their blacks after years of loyal town.” service because there were complications The implication here was that blacks either connected with manumission. He wrote: were buried in a separate, segregated place—or, Not only the Quakers, but likewise several even worse, that they were not Christians. Christians of other denominations, sometimes Most of Kalm’s remarks on Philadelphia’s set their Negroes at liberty. This is done in the blacks can be found in his expanded journal following manner: when a gentleman has a entry for December 6, 1748, where he discussed faithful Negro who has done him great services, servants, dividing them into two categories, free he sometimes declares him independent at his and slave. There were two kinds of free servants: death. This is however very expensive; for they salaried servants (like his own Lars Jungström) are obliged to make a provision for the Negro and indentured servants (who paid their passage thus set at liberty, to afford him subsistence when with a fixed term of labor). The second category he is grown old, that he may not be driven by were slaves – “Negroes or blacks.” He wrote: necessity to wicked actions, or that he may be at “They are in a manner slaves; for when a Negro any body’s charge…. But the children which the is bought, he is the purchaser’s servant as long as free Negro has begot during his servitude are all he lives, unless he [the owner] gives him to slaves, though their father be free. On the other another, or makes him [the slave] free.” Prices, hand those Negro children are free whose parents in 1748, he was told, ranged from £40 to £100 are at liberty. for an adult to £8 to £14 for a two- to three- Another aspect of Kalm’s observations of year-old boy or girl child. the Philadelphia black community grew out of During his visit, Kalm made the the commonly held belief by Linnaeus and acquaintance of several descendants of New others that plants and animals could be moved Sweden colonists, as well as some recent arrivals. to different regions of climate and be “tamed,” He met them in Swedesboro and Philadelphia. adjusting to new conditions. This was one of the Several of them owned slaves, including the bases for Linnaeus’ whole enterprise. merchant and landowner Peter Kock and Gustav Black Africans, Kalm observed, proved to be Hesselius, the Swedish portrait painter who capable of adjusting to changed climates—like frequently accompanied Kalm. In his entry for other human beings—through a “taming,” October 10, 1748, describing a visit to Kock’s being transported from Africa to the West Indies country estate, the Swede wrote: “One of Mr. to the southern colonies before arriving in the Kock’s Negroes shewed me the skin of a badger, northern colonies. He clearly doubted the which he had killed.” This interesting statement assertion he had been given that blacks lost their indicated that slaves labored in the countryside legs, which “broke in the middle, and dropt and, in this case at least, had been armed, continued on page 12 2 Swedish Colonial News GOVERNOR’S LETTER Swedish Colonial Society 916 South Swanson Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147 Dear Friends of New Sweden: High Patron With the support and help from the officers, councillors and volunteers, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf many accomplishments have been achieved by the Society during my first King of Sweden year as Governor. Deputy High Patron Her Royal Highness Changes were made in the officers of The Swedish Colonial Society. John B. Crown Princess Victoria Tepe, Jr. has accepted the role of Corresponding Secretary; Beverly Walker Patron accepted the role of Archivist; Karin Hampel is now the Editor of the SCS His Excellency Newsletter; Ron and Cynthia Beatty will help as Genealogists at the Jonas Hafström Lutheran Archives Center. New councillors were added: William Johnson, Ambassador of Sweden Plymouth, Minnesota; Eugene Bocelli, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and Jeanette Governor Woehr, Haddonfield, New Jersey. Margaret Sooy Bridwell Senior Deputy Governor The Beattys have achieved making the Craig Collection Library available for Mark Roberts research for interested members who wish to become a Forefather of the SCS. Ron has requested that volunteers help to enter data into a GEDCOM and he Junior Deputy Governor Edith A. Rohrman will maintain the database, making certain that it is searchable for the volunteers who will approve Forefather applications. Treasurer The Rev. David B. Anderson E-Communiqué #9, “Organization of the Craig Collection,” describes the work Registrar/Financial that the volunteers have completed at the Lutheran Archives Center in Secretary Philadelphia with the establishment of the Craig Collection Library. There have Peg Berich been many positive comments concerning the E-Communiqué on this subject. Recording Secretary Please send your e-mail address to the registrar to receive this e-mail if you Aleasa J. Hogate haven’t done so. All E-Communiqués can be found on the website: www.colonialswedes.org Corresponding Secretary John B. Tepe, Jr. Various topics were discussed, completed or will be accomplished over the Chaplain summer months by our industrious officers and councillors. For example: The Rev. D. Joy Segal 1. Consideration of an audio system to be used at the meetings Marshal 2. Formation of a Mission Statement that describes the goals and Al Capotosto purposes of our Society Visit us on the internet at: 3. Discussion by the Fundraising Committee on ideas to increase funds www.ColonialSwedes.org 4. Requisition of e-mail addresses for E-Communiqué 5. Suggestion for bonding of Treasurer and Financial Secretary Please contact us at: [email protected] 6.