Primary Source Set 2
Document A. Letter from the Texas Slave Descendants Society to the City of Sugar Land, dated March 5, 2006
This letter is a correspondence between Reginald Moore (Chairman of non-profit organization called Texas Slave Descendants Society), to Allen Bogard (City Manager for the City of Sugar Land). Moore is a private citizen, who started a grassroots campaign to bring visibility to a cause.
Texas Slave Descendents Society, March 5 2006
Document B. Letter from the Sugar Land City Manager’s Office to Texas to Reginald Moore of the Texas Slave Descendants Society, dated April 14, 2006.
This letter is a correspondence between Allen Bogard (City Manager for the City Sugar Land) and Reginald Moore (Founder of non-profit organization called Texas Slave Descendants Society). Bogard is a public servant and his position of City Manager is appointed by city council members.
City of Sugar Land Letter April 14 2006
Close Reading and Primary Source Analysis
While reading each document, circle key words or phrases that stand out to you and underline sentences that represent the main point of each paragraph.
After reading each document, answer the following questions:
- What is the main purpose of this letter?
- Write one paragraph summarizing this letter.
- Why do you think the author wrote it?
- What questions do you have that can be answered with a careful analysis of this document?
- What questions are left unanswered by the document?
Key Words or Phrases Discussion Starter
Direct students to the following words/ phrases from the documents.
Ask students to examine each within the context of each document and explain why those phrases stood out to them.
|
Document A (Moore Letter) |
Document B (City Manager’s Letter) |
|
slave and convict labor |
appropriate sources |
|
direct beneficiary |
particular vision |
|
economic benefit |
tangible value |
|
educational purposes |
preservation of local heritage |
|
partnership |
positive manner |
| archeological studies |
archeological reports |
Example: The Bogard letter suggests “appropriate sources” are required for the city to move forward with preservation of the prison farm. The request is not unusual or unreasonable, because historians use primary sources to reconstruct history. However, the phrase suggests that appropriate sources were not presented or properly documented at the time the letter was written. Are there contradictions or inconstancies compared to information found in letter A?
Both letters recognize there was “economic benefit” by the city because of convict leasing and that the land is currently of “tangible value” to the city. What is the claim Moore is making regarding the land? What is the proposed use by the Texas Slave Descendants Society?
Main Point Discussion Starter
Direct students to the following main points from the documents.
Ask students to examine the context of each document and explain why particular phrases/ points stood out to them.
Example: The Moore letter states the City of Sugar Land, “which was previously the Oakland Plantation, one of the largest plantations in Texas.” Because slave and convict labor that harvested sugar cane on the property, the city was a “direct beneficiary” of this history. Ask students to discuss the legacy of slavery and convict leasing and the ways in which educational programs can aid in bringing awareness to this history.
Both letters state there are structures in place to educate citizens, preserve and maintain local history, but they differ in how they approach this goal. Identify each strategic vision for educating and preserving local history as stated in letter A versus letter B.
