I too have found slate pencils and writing slates on a wide variety of 
sites in SC and NC, including sites occupied by African American slaves 
and Freedmen. Often the slates are scored like notebook paper. I use 
their presence on Af-Am sites to highlight the desire to learn to read 
and write, despite laws forbidding the practice.

On 4/19/2016 2:05 PM, Martha Zierden wrote:
> They are a regular find on sites in Charleston, SC.  They are more common
> in 19th century contexts, but some are recovered from late 18th century
> deposits, as well.  A maximum length is 3"
> Martha Zierden
>
> On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 2:00 PM, Keith Doms <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> You can check various catalogs (Sears and Montgomery Wards) for prices and
>> some description.  The 1902 Sears repro catalog omits the pencil pages but
>> years ago Sears actually sent me a copy of them.  They sold cedar encased
>> slate pencils at $.08/dozen.
>>
>> I recently found a 1 inch nub of a slate pencil with a grove carved around
>> the base.   A worn out pencil that was once tied to something.   Mostly
>> their presence is noted without much comment.
>>
>> Keith R. Doms
>> Newlin Grist Mill
>> Site Manager
>> 219 S. Cheyney Rd.
>> Glen Mills, PA  19342
>> (610) 459-2359
>> [log in to unmask]
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Meg
>> Gorsline
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 1:09 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Slate pencils
>>
>> Good afternoon,
>>
>> I'm trying to gather some information about slate pencils. I've come
>> across a few publications about writing slates (including Davies 2005 and
>> Swords
>> 2008) and I'm wondering if folks have any additional suggestions for
>> literature about slate pencils?
>> There are a few slate pencils in a 19th century northeast U.S. domestic
>> collection I'm analyzing, and I am curious to hear what others have made of
>> any slate pencils they've recovered. Thanks in advance for any references,
>> information, or insight you may have to share!
>>
>> Best,
>> Meg Gorsline
>> Doctoral Candidate
>> The Graduate Center, CUNY
>> New York, NY
>>
>
>