San Antonio College Library

Fascinating stories of enormous human interest from case studies illustrate both the need for and the effectiveness of the Freedmen's Bureau in Texas. Established by Congress in 1865 to help newly emancipated blacks make the transition from slavery to freedom, the Freedmen's Bureau is considered the first social welfare agency in American history. How effectively the Bureau carried out its mission, however, has long been a subject of debate. In this...

This book records the observations made by John William De Forest as an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau at Greenville, SC, in 1866 and 1867. Scorning a politic reticence, he stated his individualistic conclusions with a vigor that probably offended both Northern and Southern readers in the 'sixties, and may retain this double effectiveness even today. De Forest's service at Greenville extended over a period of fifteen months. Since the three counties...