The essential context required to understand the MMS ledgers is understanding the time during which these donations were being made. This is important for two primary reasons:
- The value of a dollar: It’s important to remember that the value of a dollar has changed significantly since the 19th century. The dollar amounts featured in the ledger are much smaller than the values they would represent today.
- Sources of wealth: While Benjamin Bates’ founding donation accounts for the most high-profile instance of the College’s benefit from exploited labor, it’s important to remember that a significant proportion of the US population at the time would have also benefited financially in one way or another from exploited labor. Therefore, it’s likely that a number of the donations featured on the ledger came from individuals whose wealth benefitted from slavery.
