Print Resources

While not exhaustive, this lightly annotated bibliography serves as an excellent initial resource for exploring Black history in the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent region. Some sources listed are freely available online while others can be only be accessed in person through the University of Windsor’s Leddy Library and its Archives and Special Collections, the Windsor Public Library and its Local History Branch, or the Windsor Community Archives.

Resources on Windsor

The most exhaustive examination of Windsor’s Black community, Our Own Two Hands, was penned by local writer and historian Irene Moore Davis. Additionally, the work of Charlotte Bronte Perry’s community focused monograph, The Long Road, meticulously preserved the rich history and cultural heritage of Windsor’s historic downtown neighbourhood. For more on the McDougall Street Corridor and Windsor’s historic Black neighbourhood, see We Were Here: Documenting Windsor's McDougall Street Corridor.

While the literature concerning the history of Black Windsorites remains somewhat constrained, there exist noteworthy sources that offer valuable insights into the presence and experiences of Black Canadians in Windsor, particularly spanning from the late nineteenth century well into the twentieth century. These sources, albeit limited in scope, afford glimpses into the multifaceted dimensions of Black life in Windsor, encompassing social, economic, and cultural facets.

Further sources on the history of Black Windsorites have emerged from within the community itself. These firsthand accounts serve as invaluable records, documenting personal experiences and family histories that resonate deeply within the McDougall Street Corridor and beyond. These community-driven narratives provide unique insights into the lived experiences, resilience, and cultural heritage of Black individuals and families in Windsor.

Essex County & Southwestern Ontario

Contrasting the relatively sparse literature on Black history in Windsor, there has been a greater production of literature and works exploring the settlement and experiences of Black Canadians across Essex County and Southwestern Ontario. While specific towns will be further explored in this bibliography, the list provided below serves as a valuable resource for understanding the broader evolution of Black life in Southwestern Ontario, as well as the pivotal moments in Black Canadian history within the province. Sources cover areas including Amherstburg, Dresden, Maidstone, and Sandwich. For more information on Black history in Sandwich, please see Across the River to Freedom: Early Black History in Sandwich, Ontario and The North was Our Canaan: Exploring Sandwich Town's Underground Railroad History.  

New Canaan & Colchester

 New Canaan and Colchester stand as significant landmarks for freedom seekers throughout the nineteenth century. Understanding these locales is essential for gaining insights into the struggles and triumphs of Black Canadians in the early years of freedom and settlement. The sources provided below range from the early settlement period to the era of civil rights and education equality.

Chatham-Kent

Chatham-Kent, another town known for its historical significance in the quest for freedom, remains a focal point in Black Ontario history. Of particular note is the celebrated legacy of the Chatham Coloured All-Stars baseball team, and Black sporting history in the region. The sources provided below offer comprehensive insights into the rich tapestry of Black sporting history, as well as broader narratives encompassing the diverse experiences and contributions of Black Canadians in Chatham-Kent. For more on Black Sporting History in Chatham, please see Breaking the Colour Barrier: Wilfred "Boomer" Harding & the Chatham Coloured All-Stars

Buxton

Not far from Chatham lies the town of Buxton, another significant locale for Black settlement in the province. Buxton was home to the Elgin Settlement, which was established in the mid-nineteenth century by abolitionists. Formerly one of the region’s largest Black settlements, the sources provided here delve into the town's founding, growth, and enduring historical significance.

Slavery, Resistance, & Emancipation

The legacy of the Underground Railroad is a topic that has received much coverage in Canada in recent years. For a wide range of related sources, the list below covers topics from enslavement to the celebration of emancipation. Benjamin Drew’s documentation of freedom seekers residing in Canada is significant in its capturing of the stories of the formerly enslaved. Similarly, Karolyn Smardz Frost provides an in-depth examination of the Blackburns, a fugitive slave couple, and their harrowing journey from enslavement to freedom in Canada. In commemorating the abolition of slavery, the works of Natasha Henry and Victoria Campbell focus on the history of emancipation day celebrations and the significance of this holiday for communities across Southwestern Ontario.

Women

Black women have been instrumental in shaping and sustaining Black settlements and communities across the province. The listed works illuminate the leadership and enduring legacy of these remarkable women across different communities in Southwestern Ontario and throughout various historical periods. Notably, Rosemary Sadlier and Jane Rhodes offer focused insights into the life and contributions of Mary Ann Shadd Cary. As the first female publisher in Canada and North America's first Black woman publisher, Cary's pioneering spirit is exemplified through her establishment of the Provincial Freeman newspaper, initially launched in Windsor, Ontario.

Social Organizations & Religion

Religious institutions and social clubs were among the initial building blocks of community within Black settlements. These works offer valuable insights into the evolution of the Black Church in Ontario, alongside the importance of social organisations and clubs like the Prince Hall Freemasons, women’s clubs, and civil rights groups in fostering the growth and autonomy of Black settlements in the province.

Select Rare or Specialized Books at Leddy Library’s Archives & Special Collections 

Some of the following works are available in modern reprints, but the original versions are beautiful examples of the nineteenth-century bookmaker’s art, featuring embossed covers and detailed illustrations. Others come from small presses and can be difficult to find. All can be viewed in-person at Leddy Library, in the Archives & Special Collections Reading Room. Additional relevant works in Leddy ASC can be found by searching the library’s online catalogue.  

Historic Newspapers and Magazines 

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