Bound in Béxar County: Slavery in San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas has a rich and vibrant history. While themes of freedom and independence predominate—centered around the myths and legendary heroes villains of the Alamo—San Antonio also holds a lesser-known but deeply significant history related to the enslavement of Black Texans. This guide is designed to provide access to primary and secondary resources that offer a glimpse into the lives and resistance of Freedom Seekers in San Antonio. Included are books, scholarly articles, databases, and websites that reclaim the full scope of slavery in San Antonio and the lives of Black San Antonians prior to emancipation.
 

In the side navigation on the left, researchers will find several tabs of information. Following the overview, there is a page dedicated to the “Public History Program at St. Mary’s University”. The next section, "Resources," is divided into three subsections: Books, Articles, and Websites. The final section, “Primary Sources” presents a selection of original resources that examine slavery and San Antonio specifically.
 

  
     Although Mexico abolished slavery in 1829 and the institution essentially disappeared, the new Constitution of 1836 robustly reinstated slavery. Slavery increased in San Antonio throughout the Republic period, then soared once Texas became a state in 1848. Though Béxar County never had a large enslaved population, its influence shaped every domain of our city and county. Indeed, 20 of the 23 mayors in office in San Antonio, 1837-1863 are registered as enslavers in the Béxar County Clerk's records of bills of sale. 

Felix Haywood was born in Béxar County. His story can be found in the Federal Writers' Project: Slave Narratives.

Felix Haywood, Age 92. (1936, 1938). Photo, Print, Drawing; Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/mesnp.162130a/?r=0.476,1.236,0.535,0.412,0