Freedom on the Move Database User Guide

What primary sources were used to build the Freedom on the Move database?

Freedom on the Move is a database of information gathered from thousands of fugitive advertisements printed in newspapers during slavery. Fugitive advertisements were notices placed in newspapers by enslavers seeking the capture and return of people who had escaped bondage. These ads often included detailed physical descriptions—such as height, complexion, scars, or clothing—along with information about skills, family connections, and suspected destinations. Enslavers often highlighted rewards for capture, reflecting both the monetary value they attached to enslaved people and the threat that fugitivity posed to the slave system. While intended to aid in recapture, these ads now serve historians and descendant communities as rare records that preserve the names, voices, and traces of enslaved individuals who resisted enslavement by seeking freedom. In this way, fugitive ads stand as both instruments of surveillance and control, and as enduring testimonies of courage and resistance.

Who built the Freedom on the Move database?

Freedom on the Move is a crowd-sourced database. That means anyone—including you—can help expand this resource.

Can I download the Freedom on the Move database?

Yes. You can download the entire database for free here.