Between 1619 and 1865, many Black Virginians were free from enslavement. But while they raised families, built careers, and created strong communities, they lived under laws and systems that treated them as anything but equal.

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) brings these stories to light in its newest exhibition, “Un/Bound: Free Black Virginians, 1619–1865,” on display now through July 4, 2027.

Real people, real stories

One story follows more than 200 years of the Madden family’s history in Culpeper County. Sarah Madden was born free but spent part of her childhood indentured. After gaining her freedom in 1789, she built a successful life as a seamstress and laundress. Her son, Willis Madden, went on to become a prosperous farmer and broke barriers by owning Madden’s Tavern before the Civil War.

Over the years, the Maddens continued to make an impact as teachers, preachers, and community leaders. Their legacy is honored through a family history published by T.O. Madden in 1992 and the Maddensville Historic Site. Items like their family trunk, a teaching contract, and a school register help bring their story to life.

Legacies that live on

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will see personal artifacts like a $200 bond signed by Benjamin Short, the manumission petition Matthew Ashby used to free his wife and children, and a needlepoint Sarah Jackson stitched while attending school in Maryland — one of the few educational options available to Black students at the time.

"Un/Bound" also includes portraits by award-winning photographer Ruddy Roye, featuring descendants who keep their families’ legacies alive by sharing stories and objects for the exhibition. Think: historians and educators to an NFL star turned nonprofit founder.

Admission to "Un/Bound" is free for VMHC members, EBT/SNAP cardholders, and kids under 5.

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