Purchased Lives: The American Slave Trade From 1808 To 1865

EXPERIENCE THE STORIES OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES WERE BOUGHT AND SOLD

Purchased Lives: The American Slave Trade from 1808 to 1865 illustrates the pain and injustice of the American domestic slave trade, illuminating just how widespread the practice of slavery was in American life, as well as its impact on enslaved families across the country.

This exhibition, originally curated by The Historic New Orleans Collection, showcases more than 75 original artifacts, slave narratives, and oral histories. Through interactive displays, visitors engage directly with historical records by tracking the shipment of more than 70,000 people to New Orleans. Purchased Lives also contains a collection of “Lost Friends” ads placed after the Civil War by newly freed people attempting to locate Illinois family members.

Illinois Holocaust Museum consistently uses special exhibitions to tell stories of inhumanity and resilience, both historical and present-day. Purchased Lives, combined with its related programming, facilitates a broader conversation about the legacies of the American slave trade and their manifestations in today’s world.

For the Press:

Media Coverage:

• Skokie Review – Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie opens exhibit on the American slave trade
• NBC5 – Illinois Holocaust Museum Opens Its First Slavery Exhibition
• CBS2 – Holocaust Museum Opens Its First Slavery Exhibit ‘Purchased Lives’
• WTTW – Illinois Holocaust Museum Opens Exhibit on American Slave Trade