Slave Auction Location along Whitehall Street in Atlanta, Georgia, 1864

    Slave auction in on Whitehall Street.
    Courtesy of Library of Congress, Barnard, George, "['Auction & Negro Sales,' Whitehall Street]," 1864

    Description 

    This photograph was taken during the Union occupation of Atlanta, Georgia by George Barnard, the official photographer of the Chief Engineer's Office. The image shows an auction location that was used for the sale of enslaved Africans. When in use, the enslaved people would be brought from the pen and made to stand on a platform so that they could be seen by the buyers. Buyers would inspect the enslaved people, and they would endure being poked, prodded and forced to open their mouths for the buyers. The auctioneer would decide a price to start the bidding. It would be higher for young enslaved people and lower for older, very young or sickly enslaved people. Buyers would bid against each other, and sold to the person who bid the most money.

    Source-Dependent Questions

    • Look closely at this image and describe what you see.
    • During a sale, the enslaved people would have to stand on a platform so that buyers could see and inspect them before the auction began. Compare this document to the image of Inspection and Sale of a Negro. Describe how the enslaved people might feel during the inspection time and auction.
    • Why would young, strong and healthy people be sold before older and sickly people?

    Citation Information 

    Barnard, George, "['Auction & Negro Sales,' Whitehall Street]," 1864. Courtesy of Library of Congress

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