Harvard scholar sheds light on Jane Clark’s story of slavery, escape
Robin Bernstein was deep in the archives of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art in Auburn, N.Y., researching her forthcoming book on for-profit prisons, when Jane Clark interrupted her. Clark’s slave narrative was vaguely familiar to Bernstein. The Harvard scholar wanted to learn more. Soon, she was sharing what she discovered. “She had an extraordinary life. There were thousands of people like Jane Clark, and I’m proud I was able to deliver one of these thousands of stories,” said the Dillon Professor of American History, who published Clark’s narrative in Common-place, a journal for scholars and teachers of early American history. “There are probably narratives like this in hundreds of depositories across the Northeast, and I’d be delighted if this inspired others to dig out stories like this.” After surviving five floggings, Clark resolved “to escape or die in the attempt.” She was 34 years old when she fled in...