Isabella Gibbons Explained

Isabella Gibbons
Birth Place:	Virginia
Death Date:	(about 54 years old)
Death Place:	Washington, D.C.
Burial Place:	Charlottesville, Virginia
Spouse:	William Gibbons
Other Names:	Isabella Gibbins
Occupation:	Acted as Nurse during civil war, Teacher
Years Active:	1866–1874
Known For:	Her eyes on the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers

Isabella Gibbons (– February 4, 1890) was an enslaved woman serving as a cook at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia. After she was freed in 1865 she became a teacher.

Under slavery

Isabella's birth date, place of birth, and parents are unknown. About 1850 she was purchased by William Barton Rogers, a professor of natural philosophy (science) at the University, and was his family's cook until 1853.^[1] She apparently was taught to read by Mrs. Rogers. In the early 1850s she married William Gibbons, also an enslaved laborer owned by a university professor. They had four children; one was named Bella.^[2]

In 1853 Rogers was replaced as professor of natural philosophy by Francis Henry Smith, and Gibbons was the cook for Smith's family until 1863.^[3]

She acted as nurse at the Confederate military hospital set up at the University.^[4]

After emancipation

She and her husband were freed when General Philip Sheridan's troops reached Charlottesville, bringing the Emancipation Proclamation with them, on March 3, 1865 (see Liberation and Freedom Day). She became a teacher at the Freedmen's School; its direct descendant is the Jefferson School. Newspaper reports speak positively of her:

She received similar praise in 1867^[5] and 1869.^[6] The last reference to her as a Charlottesville teacher is from 1874.^[7]

Memorial to Enslaved Laborers

The only known writing of Isabella is the following letter, published in the journal of the charity providing support to schools for freedmen, the New England Freedman's Aid Society. In all the several references to her in this publication her name appears as Gibbins.

The sentences with italic added were inscribed in the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville.

Her eyes, from the above photograph, were etched on the outside of the memorial.

Legacy

• In 2015, the University of Virginia named its new residence hall Gibbons House, in honor of Isabella and William. In the public area are photos of them, interpretive panels on the walls, and a plaque about them.^[8]
• Isabella's eyes, based on the above photograph, as there is no other, and the quote cited above, are inscribed on the exterior of the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers.

Further reading

• Book: McKinney , Richard I . Keeping the Faith : a history of the First Baptist Church, 1863-1980, in light of its times, West Main and Seventh Streets, Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville, Virginia. First Baptist Church. 1981. 9322992.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Schulman . Gayle M. . 2003 . Slaves at the University of Virginia . latinamericanstudies.org.
2. Web site: Behind Her Eyes: The Story of Isabella Gibbons. Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 13 August 2020. 4 July 2021. 22 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122153354/https://vpdiversity.virginia.edu/isabella-gibbons. live.
3. Book: McInnis , Maurie D. . Educated in Tyranny: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's University. Maurie D.. McInnis. Louis P.. Nelson. Maurie D. McInnis. Introduction. 1–25. 2019. University of Virginia Press. Charlottesville, Virginia. 9780813942865.
4. Web site: Isabella Gibbons and Pavilion VI. Thomas Jefferson Architect. Palladian models, Democratic Principles, and the Conflict of Ideas. University of Virginia. August 15, 2020. August 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825123941/http://juel.iath.virginia.edu/chrysler/isabellagibbons.html. live.
5. News: accessiblearchives.com. May 1867. 3. 5. 69–75, at p, 73. Report of committee on teachers. E. D.. Cheney. Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney. The Freedmen's Record. 2020-08-22. 2020-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825124028/https://accessible.com/accessible/emailedURL?AADoc=THEFREEDMENSRECORD%28THEFREEDMENSJOURNAL%29.FJ1867050102.00002. live.
6. News: accessiblearchives.com. June 1869. 5. 2. 13–18, at p. 16. Report of committee on teachers. E. D.. Cheney. Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney. The Freedmen's Record. 2020-08-22. 2020-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825123957/https://accessible.com/accessible/emailedURL?AADoc=THEFREEDMENSRECORD%28THEFREEDMENSJOURNAL%29.FJ1869060103.00003. live.
7. News: accessiblearchives.com. April 1874. 5. 11. 145–148, at p. 146. Report of committee on teachers. E. D.. Cheney. Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney. The Freedmen's Record. 2020-08-22. 2020-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825124001/https://accessible.com/accessible/emailedURL?AADoc=THEFREEDMENSRECORD%28THEFREEDMENSJOURNAL%29.FJ1874040103.00003. live.
8. News: Gibbons House dedication memorializes former slaves, successful free lives. June 15, 2015. Anne E.. Bromley. UVAToday. August 22, 2020. April 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160418152521/https://news.virginia.edu/content/gibbons-house-dedication-memorializes-former-slaves-successful-free-lives. live.