The harriet jacobs papers consists of approximately 600 items including writings by jacobs her brother john s jacobs and her daughter louisa matilda jacobs all active reformers there is also a small group of letters to the jacobs family from other black and white abolitionists and feminists. The harriet jacobs family papers two volume boxed set edited by jean fagan yellin with a searchable cd of the entire contents 480 pp 6125 x 925 37 illus 5 maps 26 tables 1 family tree appends notes index hardcover isbn 978 0 8078 3131 1 published november 2008. The harriet jacobs family papers 2 vols edited by jean fagan yellin chapel hill the university of north carolina press 2008 lxxxi 1056 pp 12500 reviewed by jennifer putzi college of william and mary o ne of the most striking documents in the harriet jacobs family papers is also one of the briefest from the daybook of james bozman . Although millions of african american women were held in bondage over the 250 years that slavery was legal in the united states harriet jacobs 1813 97 is the only one known to have left papers testifying to her life. Bibliography includes bibliographical references and index summary this is the only collection of papers of an african american woman held in slaveryalthough millions of african american women were held in bondage over the 250 years that slavery was legal in the united states harriet jacobs 1813 97 is the only one known to have left papers testifying to her life