Florida State Archives

The coloring sheet was drawn from this historic photograph taken at Kingsley Plantation.

Kingsley Plantation is located on an island. Between 1765 and 1865, this area was used as a plantation, which was a type of farm. Crops were grown and sold for profit. However, unlike a farm today, the workers on a plantation were forced into labor against their will and were called slaves.

Considered property, a slave was owned by another person and could be sold to someone else at any time. Familes could be sold apart. Enslaved people were not paid for their work.

Sea Island cotton was the cash crop (the crop grown to make money) at the plantation. Working in the cotton fields was one task, or job, that was given to the slaves. Sometimes they also worked inside the owner's house, cooked, worked as blacksmiths or carpenters.

After finishing a day's task, slaves returned to their homes at the slave quarters. However, their work days still was not over. Personal needs to tended to, such as growing their own food in their gardens, cooking, or making repairs to their homes. This was also the time when familes would spend time together, sharing traditions such as stories, games, and songs.

Learn more about Kingsley Plantation by clicking here.

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