The Matheson History Museum will open its newest exhibition, “Chains of Steele: Money, Power, and Influence,” on Wednesday, Aug. 19, offering visitors an in-depth look at two ancestors of Gainesville’s Matheson family and their connections to the institution of American slavery.
The opening reception will start at 7 p.m. The Matheson History Museum is located at 513 E. University Ave. in Gainesville.
The original exhibition is the result of a year and a half of research, planning and writing. Drawing on unique documents preserved in the museum’s archives, “Chains of Steele” examines Augustus and Augusta Steele, exploring the choices they made, the privileges they received and the lasting effects of slavery on their lives and American history.
Augustus Steele was born in Massachusetts in 1792, at a time when slavery was outlawed in the state. By the time of his death, however, he had become a devoted Confederate official, an advocate for slavery and an enslaver.
The exhibition explores the path that led Steele from his Massachusetts upbringing to his later involvement with the Confederacy and the institution of slavery, as well as the ways he benefited from those choices.
His only child, Augusta, was part of the last generation to grow up supported by slavery. She turned 18 in 1865, the year emancipation reached Florida and the Confederacy collapsed. The exhibition examines Augusta’s life after emancipation and what her experiences reveal about the long-lasting impacts of slavery on American history.
“Chains of Steele” will feature rarely displayed Matheson family photographs, excerpts from the family’s papers and a memorial honoring the people enslaved by the Steeles. The memorial includes the first biographies written about these individuals, providing an opportunity to recognize their lives and experiences within the historical record.
The museum also extends its appreciation to Hector Framing and Gallery for lending antique frames for the memorial wall.
Visitors will have an opportunity to tour the new exhibition, meet the curator and enjoy catering from D’s Comfort Foods.