Slavery era insurance documents, [circa 1847-1860], 2001-2002

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Summary

Title:
Slavery era insurance documents,
Dates:
[circa 1847-1860], 2001-2002
Creators:
California. Department of Insurance.
Abstract:
Photocopies of documents collected by the State of California Insurance Department in pursuance of California Code Regulations, Title 10, Sections 2293-2398, which required insurance companies to provide documentation about insurance polices from the slavery era which coverage for slaveholders for damage to or death of the enslaved.
Extent:
1 legal manuscript box, 2 oversized flat boxes. (2 Cubic Feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Slavery era insurance documents (SFH 670), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes photocopies of the Slavery Era Registry, official report, and responsive documents reported by insurance carriers subject to the regulation of SB 2199.

The Slavery Era Registry, created by the California Department of Insurance, lists slave and slaveholder names and identifying information as reported by insurers. The Slavery Era Insurance Registry Report to the California Legislature (May 2002) includes the legislation, implementation, reporting requirements, and summarizes substantive responses from carriers. Reporting insurers have been designated to submit a consolidated report on behalf of subsidiaries, affiliates, and predecessors doing business in the state of California during the slavery era. In accordance with California Code of Regulations (Section 2396), the reports include contact information, a description of research methodology, and information on the possession or knowledge relating to insurance policies issued to slaveholders that provided coverage for damage to or death of their slaves.

Examples of responsive documents that have been submitted include insurance ledger books, policy registers, slaveholder life insurance policies issued, and death claims. Whether in the interest of full disclosure or historic value, some insurers provided documents that are not responsive to the statute such as a magazine article containing a replica of an issued policy and meeting notes from company's history. In some cases, documents were found and submitted after initial filings.

ACE USA reported that it found in its possession a copy of a slave policy. Aetna's search uncovered seven policies found in the company's archive and from outside sources; after its initial report, Aetna discovered and submitted a ledger book containing the names of slaves and slaveholders. AIG provided a list of the names of slaves and slaveholders culled from U.S. Life bound registries. New York Life reported that its predecessor, Nautilus Insurance Company, sold slaveholder life insurance policies and provided records of names and three separate ledgers, an Index of Applicants, and Death Claim Book.

This collection lacks documentation from the General Reinsurance Corporation and National Life of Vermont.

Biographical / historical:

In 2000, the California State Legislature passed SB 2199, authored by former Senator Tom Hayden and signed into law by former Governor Gray Davis. The statute is entitled "Slavery Era Insurance Policies." The Legislature found and declared that "Insurance policies from the slavery era have been discovered in the archives of several insurance companies, documenting insurance coverage for slaveholders for damage to or death of their slaves, issued by a predecessor insurance firm. These documents provide the first evidence of ill-gotten profits from slavery, which profits in part capitalized insurers whose successors remain in existence today." SB2199 Sec. 1(a).

The statute adds sections 13810 through 13813 to the California Insurance Code (CIC), which entitles the Insurance Commissioner and the Department of Insurance to seek information from the files of insurers licensed and doing business in the state of California, including licensed California subsidiaries of international insurance companies, regarding insurance policies issued to slaveholders by predecessor corporations. Furthermore, the commissioner shall obtain the names of any slaveholders or slaves described in those insurance records and shall make the information available to the public and the Legislature.

The Regulation required carriers to submit the requested data by October 13, 2001, the effective date of the regulation. The Department of Insurance received reports from over 1,000 insurers, the vast majority of them did not come into existence until after the slavery era (prior to 1865), and they had nothing to report. To date, the compliance response rate is approximately 92%. The Department of Insurance is continuously in contact with insurers who have not responded completely. Copied for the collection are the reports and documents of those insurers that were in business prior to 1865. The vast majority of responses indicated that the insurer had nothing to report, was unable to find responsive information or documents, routinely destroyed documents beyond a certain age, or the responsive documents had been lost or destroyed.

Major portions of text from: California Department of Insurance, Slavery Era Insurance Registry and Slavery Era Insurance Registry Report, Report to the California Legislature (May 2002).

Acquisition information:
Donation from California Department of Insurance, May 2002.
Processing information:

During processing, the collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Arrangement:

Photocopies of the Slavery Insurance Registry and responses from insurers are arranged in six folders. The collection of insurance companies is arranged alphabetically. The copies of insurance ledgers submitted by New York Life from its predecessor Nautilus Insurance Company are in 2 oversized flat boxes.

Physical location:
The collection is stored on site.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Collection processed by Natasha Forner. Finding aid composed by Freya Channing with assistance from Natasha Forner.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-07-06 16:38:06 +0000 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

The collection is available for use during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Slavery era insurance documents (SFH 670), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website