5. Enslaved People Built Key Northern Institutions
Enslaved labor was instrumental in constructing significant Northern institutions, shaping the region’s economic and cultural landscape. Faneuil Hall in Boston, built in 1742, was funded by Peter Faneuil, a merchant who profited from the sale of enslaved people. Archaeological surveys at Faneuil Hall have uncovered artifacts produced by enslaved individuals, including pottery and commercial canisters (wbur.org). While specific records of enslaved labor at Columbia University and Harvard University are limited, the broader context of slavery in the North suggests that enslaved individuals likely contributed to the construction and development of these institutions.
