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John “Quash” Williams
Black Craftspeople Digital Archive
John “Quash” Williams
1750, Charleston, South Carolina
In May of 1750, John “Quash” Williams completed the carpentry and joinery work on his greatest known architectural masterpiece, the Charles Pinckney Mansion, in Charleston, South Carolina. On May 12, 1750, Charles Pinckney freed Williams from enslavement. Just days later, Williams placed an advertisement in the South Carolina Gazette seeking work. With profits earned from his trades, he purchased his children in 1751 and granted them freedom in 1754. For more on Williams, Click Here.
Contextualization
The Black Craftspeople Digital Archive departs from traditional art history object-study methods by centering on the lives and experiences of Black craftspeople. Among the questions we ask of objects are: How is craft knowledge produced by Black life? How does the object currently speak to the craftsperson’s legacy? What were the craftsperson’s experiences? This postcard was conceived by the BCDA in response to an invitation by the MA in Critical Craft Studies’ cohort of ’21. For more on the BCDA’s object-study methods, please visit the website.