Various - The Journal of Negro History, Volume 3, 1918

Ford edition of Jefferson's Writings , X, p. 344.

Ibid. , X, p. 385.

The Philanthropist , July 28, 1837.

Ibid.

The Philanthropist , June 2, 1837.

Cincinnati Morning Herald , June 1, 1844.

The Leisure Hour , 1853, II, p. 54.

Tyson, Banneker, The Afric-American Astronomer , p. 10.

The Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 80

In another particular this same sketch differs from several others, namely, in locating young Banneker at "an obscure and distant country school" with no mention of the oft-repeated assertion that the school was one attended by both white and colored children. The author of the last-mentioned sketch was evidently not sure of these two statements, and therefore did not include them. In fact, he appears not to have been quite sure of the propriety of submitting any sketch at all of this "free man of color" to the distinguished body constituting the Maryland Historical Society, for there was a clear note of apology in his opening declaration that "A few words may be necessary to explain why a memoir of a free man of color, formerly a resident of Maryland, is deemed of sufficient interest to be presented to the Historical Society." But he justified his effort on the grounds that "no questions relating to our country (are) of more interest than those connected with her colored population"; that that interest had "acquired an absorbing character"; that the presence of the colored population in States where slavery existed "modified their institutions in important particulars," and effected "in a greater or less degree the character of the dominant race"; and "for this reason alone," he said, "the memoir of a colored man, who had distinguished himself in an abstruse science, by birth a Marylander, claims consideration from those who have associated to collect and preserve facts and records relating to the men and deeds of the past."—J. H. B. Latrobe in Maryland Historical Society Publications , I, p. 8.

Ford edition of Jefferson's Writings , V, p. 379.

In the memoir of Banneker, above mentioned, read before the Maryland Historical Society in 1845, and in another memoir of Banneker, read before the same Society by Mr. J. Saurin Norris, in 1854, the estate purchased by Mollie Welsh is referred to as "a small farm near the present site of Baltimore," and "purchased at a merely nominal price." See Norris's Memoir , p. 3.

Norris Memoir , p. 4; Williams's History of the Negro Race , p. 386.

Tyson, Banneker , p. 10.

It is elsewhere given as 7,000, but the earlier record seems to be the correct one.

Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 81.

Latrobe, Memoir, Maryland Historical Society Publications , I, p. 7.

Ibid. , I, p. 7.

Banneker would frequently, in answering questions submitted to him, accompany the answers with questions of his own in rhyme. The following is an example of such a question submitted by him to another noted mathematician, his friend and neighbor, Mr. George Ellicott:

A cooper and Vintner sat down for a talk,

Both being so groggy, that neither could walk,

Says Cooper to Vintner, "I'm the first of my trade,

There's no kind of vessel, but what I have made,

And of any shape, Sir,—just what you will,—

And of any size, Sir,—from a ton to a gill!"

"Then," says the Vintner, "you're the man for me,—

Make me a vessel, if we can agree.

The top and the bottom diameter define,

To bear that proportion as fifteen to nine,

Thirty-five inches are just what I crave,

No more and no less, in the depth, will I have;

Just thirty-nine gallons this vessel must hold,—

Then I will reward you with silver or gold,—

Give me your promise, my honest old friend?"

"I'll make it tomorrow, that you may depend!"

So the next day the Cooper his work to discharge,

Soon made the new vessel, but made it too large;—

He took out some staves, which made it too small,

And then cursed the vessel, the Vintner and all.

He beat on his breast, "By the Powers!"—he swore,

He never would work at his trade any more.

Now my worthy friend, find out, if you can,

The vessel's dimensions and comfort the man!

Benjamin Banneker.

We are indebted to Benjamin Hallowell, of Alexandria, for the solution of this problem. The greater diameter of Banneker's tub must be 24.745 inches; the less diameter 14.8476 inches. See Maryland Historical Society Publications , I, p. 20.

The Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 81.

The Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 81.

Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 82.

Southern Literary Messenger , XXIII, p. 65.

Tyson's Banneker , p. 24.

Tyson, Banneker , p. 26.

J. H. B. Latrobe's Memoir, Maryland Historical Society Publications , I, p. 8.

Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 82.

Tyson, Banneker , p. 51.

Mr. McHenry was not only one of the most prominent men of Baltimore, but was several times honored with positions of trust. He was Senator from Maryland in 1781; and as one of the Commissioners to frame the Constitution of the United States, he signed that instrument in 1787. He was also a member of the cabinet of President John Adams as Secretary of War in 1797.—Tyson, Banneker , pp. 50, 51, 52.

Maryland Historical Society Publications , I, 1844-48, I, p. 79.

A copy of Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson and the statesman's reply were published in the Journal of Negro History, III, p. 69.

Catholic World , XXXVIII, December, 1883.

Washington Star , October 15, 1916.

Georgetown Weekly Ledger , March 12, 1791.

Tyson, Banneker , p. 37.

Tyson, Banneker , pp. 70-71.

Tyson, Banneker , pp. 35-60.

Records of the Columbia Historical Society , XX, pp. 117-119.

The Atlantic Monthly , XI, p. 84.

Tyson, Banneker , p. 31.

Ibid. , p. 31.

Catholic World , XVIII, p. 354.

Norris's Memoir, Maryland Historical Society Publications , II, p. 75.

Federal Gazette and Baltimore Daily Advertiser , October 28, 1806.