The Robinson House site was the home of a free African-American family, the Robinsons, from the late 1840s through 1936. James Robinson, also known as "Gentleman Jim," was a free African-American born in 1799. James and a slave named Susan Gaskins had six children, all born into slavery.
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 1: The Robinson House - Historical Background
The Robinson House site was the home of a free African-American family, the Robinsons, from the late 1840s through 1936. It stood until 1993 when arsonists burned part of the structure. Read more
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 2: Archeological Excavations at the Robinson House
Archeological excavations at the Robinson House site were performed in 1995 and 1996 and focused around and within the existing house foundations and in the outlying yard areas. Read more
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 3: The Nash Site
Discovered during a 1990 archeological survey, historical evidence indicates that the Nash Site was occupied by an African-American family, Philip Nash and his wife and children. Read more
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 4: Finding Identity Through Material Culture: The Robinson's Tableware and Glassware
Conducting an analysis on the collection of glass and ceramics from the Robinson family provides the opportunity to study what types of goods the family used during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Read more
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 5: Finding Identity Through Material Culture: The Nash Site
Differences in the material culture of the Robinson and Nash sites illustrate the diversity within the African-American community in this area. Read more
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Manassas National Battlefield Park
Article 6: Cultural Continuity
Artifacts found at both the Robinson House and the Nash Site indicate that the Robinson family retained a portion of their African identity. Read more