Elaine Thompson is a civil rights activist. Her family has kept a small tin box for years. The box was made by Joseph Trammell. Joseph was Elaine's great-great-great-grandfather. He made the box to
hold his freedom papers. These papers were official documents that showed someone was not
enslaved. Joseph received his papers in 1852.
Without those papers, Joseph could have been enslaved again. Joseph made the box to protect his
life. His freedom tin has passed through his family for years. Elaine knew the box belonged in a
museum. She was right. The box is now in a museum in Washington, D. C. The museum is the
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Origin In blue

Authority. In green

Context in yellow