"Everything of the best. Silver, glass, china, table linen - damask - &c&c"

"Everything of the best. Silver, glass, china, table linen - damask - &c&c". - Mary Boykin Chestnut, Diarist an Preston family friend. , Renowned for lavish parties before and during the Civil War, this property was a popular destination for entertainment in the capital city. The labor of enslaved men, women and children lay behind every social gathering the Hall, Hampton and Preston families held here from 1818 until 1865. Under the direction of Maria Walker, the Prestons' enslaved maid, and her brother, William Walker, their enslaved butler, guests to the estate received the best hospitality its wealthy owners could afford., [Captions:] , Following emancipation, working-class people of color continued to perform tasks of all kinds for later property owners, including the College for Women (1890-1915) and Chicora College (1915-1930). In 1918, these unidentified domestic employees posed for Chicora College's yearbook., This piece of blue shell-edge, soft-paste porcelain was among the few artifacts found during the patio's construction. This type of common, early 19th-century ceramic was used for everyday meals that required preparation, cooking and clean-up, all performed by enslaved persons.