Slavery Museum Donor Seeks Return of Artifacts

A Virginia man who donated an estimated $75,000 worth of historical artifacts to the U.S. National Slavery Museum said he is unmoved by organizers’ claims of progress in resurrecting the stalled project and wants his items returned, according to The Free Lance-Star of Fredericksburg, Va.

Therbia Parker Sr. said he does not believe the Fredericksburg institution long planned by former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder will be built, despite a judge’s dismissal last week of museum’s bankruptcy case. The former governor “has deceived me along with other people and, in all reality, that museum will never ever be built,” he said.

Documents, slave shackles, a first edition of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and dozens of other artifacts Mr. Parker gave to the museum in 2004 are now reportedly in storage. A donation contract stipulated that if the museum is not built or closes the collection would be returned.

The chapter 11 case last year was dismissed by a Richmond federal judge on Aug. 17 in response to a request from the museum, The Free Lance-Star previously reported.

Museum attorney Sandra Robinson told the court the organization is in a position to move forward on its reorganization plan, having secured an anonymous gift to pay off a $250,000 tax debt on its planned Fredericksburg site and an additional $100,000 in contributions.