Reclaimed Family Tree: Ancestors Enslaved by Jesuits at St. Louis University and Region 1823-1865

In 2019, Robin Proudie and members of her family were contacted by researchers from the Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation Project (SHMR)—a joint initiative between Saint Louis University and the Society of Jesus—to study their ties to slavery. The research revealed that SLU enslaved upwards of 70 people between 1823 -1865, many of whom were Robin's ancestors. In response, Robin led other descendants, and a group of allies to form Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved, or DSLUE, an organization centered around Remembrance, Restoration, and Repair. Through the SHMR project Robin was able to make a simple family tree going back roughly 4 generations under the categories “Enslaved by the Jesuits/SLU”, “Enslaved by Another” and “After Emancipation”. We portray her reclaimed family tree as a cross section of a literal tree as viewed from above. The trunk holds the original enslaved people from Maryland, sold to the Jesuits at SLU. The branches spur out and around with each consecutive generation.