Meg,

At the Covert-Larch neighborhood excavation in Jersey City, NJ, there were over 200 slates and slate pencils from late 19th to early 20th century residential contexts. Like Carl mentioned, some of the slate tablet fragments appear to have been scored. They also found a disassembled wood frame they think may have been from a writing slate, as well as some graphite pencils.

Howson, Jean, and Leonard G. Bianchi
2014	COVERT-LARCH: ARCHAEOLOGY OF A JERSEY CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. Data Recovery for the Route 1&9T (25) St. Paul’s Viaduct  Replacement Project, Jersey City, Hudson County, NJ. Prepared for New Jersey Department of Transportation by the The RBA Group, Inc., Cultural Resource Unit.


Cregg


T. Cregg Madrigal, Ph.D.
Environmental Specialist 3 – Archaeology
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Municipal Finance and Construction Element
Mail Code 401-03D
PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420
609-633-1170
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-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 2:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Slate pencils

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
>>
>
>