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Rare Book Highlights
Post-Slavery History

   While doing genealogical research at the local library, Margaret Crocker Mack and Karen Paige Womack finally located a book written by their great uncle T. S. Paige in 1885, who titled it: “Twenty Two Years of Freedom.”
    Recently, the two local writers launched the book by holding a book signing at the Kirn Memorial Library in the Sargeant Memorial Room, 301 City Hall Avenue, Norfolk.
   “The book is about the celebration of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in Norfolk,” Womack explained. “The response to the book has been tremendous.”
    Actually Womack and her sister, Mack, were researching two separate books at the time of their discovery. Womack, who was researching a book about her great-grandfather Richard G. L. Paige, said she discovered the book after her great-grandfather mentioned it in some old documents.

Posted May 21, 2008

    
    In other words, she found a book that her great uncle had written, in information her great-grandfather had written. ”We tore up the place looking for it,” Womack recalled, chuckling. “The book was under lock and key.”
The 1885 book is written by her great uncle, T. F. Paige, who was born in 1839 and died of gout on January 18, 1892.
    He is buried in the Westpoint section of Elmswood Cemetery, on Princess Anne Road. The book tells of the accomplishments of the Negroes after 22 years of freedom.
It tells of the achievements of the Negroes in 1885. The author is listed as the owner of Paige’s Hotel, as well as an oyster shucking business.  To learn more about the book, please contact: Margaret Crocker Mack, 1-757-523-0330, or Karen Paige Womack, 1-757 -232-7257, or for future book signing dates TBA. Book Price $30.00.

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