In Memory

Between 1636 and 1783, more than 70 individuals were enslaved by Harvard leaders, faculty, and staff. May we honor their memory, and the memory of all the enslaved women, men, and children whose labor generated wealth that helped create the Harvard we know today.

Dates reflect the first and, where applicable, last year of documentation of each individual's enslavement, not the duration of their enslavement.


  • Wife of Mononotto, 1637
  • Son of Mononotto, 1637
  • Son of Mononotto, 1637
  • Native American man, 1637-1639
  • Native American man, 1637-1639
  • Native American woman, 1637-1639
  • Native American woman, 1637-1639
  • Pequot woman, 1637
  • Pequot boy, 1637
  • Hope, 1637–1640
  • “The Moor,” 1639
  • Dorcas, 1641–1653
  • Native American girl, 1679
  • “The Spaniard,” 1681 –1719
  • Peter, 1687
  • Scipio, 1697–1705
  • Philip Ffeild, 1700
  • Name unknown, 1705
  • Onesimus, 1706–1716
  • Brill, 1713–1722
  • Cicely, 1714
  • Tobe, 1714
  • Name unknown, 1716
  • Cuffe, 1716/17
  • Obadiah, 1717
  • Jane, 1718-1740
  • Rose, 1718-1730
  • Flora, 1723
  • Venus, 1726–1740
  • Titus, 1728–1740
  • Pompey, 1729
  • Jeffrey, 1731-1739
  • Philicia, 1731
  • Cesar, 1733
  • Hannibal, 1736-1755
  • Flora, 1737–1742
  • Toney, 1738
  • Zillah, 1738
  • Cuffy, 1739–1741
  • Zillah, 1739
  • Lucy, 1740
  • Cuffy, 1741
  • Juba, 1744–1748
  • Guinea, 1745
  • Rose, 1745
  • Cicely, 1747
  • Leos, 1749
  • Bilhah, 1755–1765
  • Infant son of Bilhah, 1762
  • James, 1755
  • Name unknown, 1757
  • Dinah, 1757–1819
  • Peter, 1758
  • George, 1759
  • Cato, 1761
  • Scipio, 1761
  • Cato, 1764-1777
  • Frank, 1768–1771
  • Anne, 1771
  • London, 1771
  • Rose, 1771
  • Cato, 1774
  • Name unknown, 1774
  • Name unknown, 1777
  • Agnes, 1777
  • Hannibal, 1777
  • Violet, 1777
  • Buff, 1783
  • Cato, 1783
  • Jenny, 1783
  • Jeoffry, 1783
  • Jerry, 1783
  • Jude, 1783
  • Mira, 1783
  • Samuel, 1783
  • Sarah, 1783
  • Violet, 1783
  • "Young Jerry," 1783
  • Cesar, 1789
iron fence decorated with Harvard shield

Report of the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery

Harvard’s motto, Veritas, inscribed on gates, doorways, and sculptures all over campus, demands of us truth. This report, prepared by the Presidential Committee on Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, advances our quest for truth through scholarship about the University’s historic ties to slavery—direct, financial, and intellectual.

Read the Report