author
Annie L. Burton
Born into slavery in Alabama, this memoirist left a rare first-person account of childhood during the Civil War and the uncertain years that followed. Her writing is valued for its clear, direct voice and the everyday details it preserves.
1 Audiobook
Memories of Childhood's Slavery Days
by Annie L. Burton
About the author
An African American memoirist born around 1858, she is best known for Memories of Childhood's Slavery Days, published in 1909. The book recalls her early life on an Alabama plantation, her experiences as a child during the Civil War, and the struggles and changes that came with emancipation.
What makes her story especially notable is that it is her own account, written in a straightforward, personal style that brings ordinary moments to life alongside the harsh realities of slavery. Details about her later life and death are uncertain, but her memoir remains an important historical record.
Her work continues to be read both as literature and as testimony, offering a child's-eye view of a turning point in American history.