our history
DSLUE
Dry Bones Get Breath
When DSLUE founder Robin Proudie first met researchers Kelly Schmidt and Ayan Ali, they shared original documents from the Saint Louis University Archives, Jesuit Archives & Research Center, and others in St. Louis, Missouri. These records revealed that Robin’s great-great-great-grandmother, Henrietta Mills, was born into slavery at Saint Louis University around 1844. Captivated by this discovery, Robin delved into the troves of documents compiled, transcribed, and translated by the research team during three years of work with the Slavery, History, Memory, and Reconciliation (SHMR) Project—an initiative examining SLU’s and the Jesuits’ entanglement with slavery.
What emerged was a painful truth: over a hundred of her ancestors had been trafficked by SLU and the Jesuits in Missouri from 1823 to 1865. For Robin, the names on the records breathed life into the dry bones of ancestors long forgotten, who had been exploited and erased from history.
In late 2019, descendants Safiyah Chauvin, Stephen Chauvin, Greg T. Holley, and Sonjia Williams were contacted by the SHMR research team. They soon joined working group meetings at Saint Louis University, bringing their ancestors’ stories back into the light.
The goal had been to learn about the forgotten lives of their ancestors, brought to light by the research. But in March 2020, everything changed when the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, halting in-person meetings. As virtual spaces became the new norm, Robin, already familiar with digital platforms, stepped in to carry forward the critical work her elders had begun.
One archival record that DSLUE holds especially dear is housed at the Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Archives and Records. On June 28, 1860, a Jesuit priest recorded a sacred union: “I have this day united in the holy bonds of matrimony Charles Chauvin, slave of Mrs. Curtis, and Henrietta Mills, slave of St. Louis University, witnesses Samuel Tyler and Ann Mills.” The marriage likely took place in the “colored chapel” located in the upper gallery of the old St. Francis Xavier College Church. Samuel Tyler, one of the witnesses, was Henrietta Mills’ cousin, and Ann Mills is believed to have been a relative as well. This poignant record, connecting family and faith, remains a powerful symbol of the resilience and enduring spirit of the enslaved people who shaped SLU’s history.
But For Our Ancestors
For the descendants, reading the actual records that documented the marriage of their ancestors—Charles Chauvin and Henrietta Mills—was a profoundly moving experience. This union, forged in the darkest chapter of history, endured against all odds so that their descendants could stand here today.
While stories of enslaved people’s marriages are often romanticized in modern narratives, the reality was far from ideal. Even relationships between enslavers and the people they enslaved are sometimes falsely portrayed as consensual “love affairs.” The uncomfortable truth is that enslaved individuals had no control over their lives or bodies. They were treated as property—bought, sold, rented, abused, and bred—subject to the will of those who enslaved them.
This record is more than a piece of history; it is a reminder of the strength, resilience, and humanity of ancestors who, despite unimaginable suffering, survived so their legacy could live on.
Ancestors Fight For Freedom in the Civil War
Charles and Henrietta’s marriage, forged under the crushing weight of human bondage, endured the upheavals of the American Civil War. In November 1864, Charles was drafted out of slavery and into the U.S. Colored Infantry as a private in the Union Army. Driven by the hope of freedom for himself and his growing family, Charles fought with courage and determination, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant.
On November 11, 1865, he was honorably discharged, stepping into a life of freedom that he had fought so hard to secure. His service not only marked his personal victory but also began a proud legacy of military service that many of his descendants carry forward today. This story of perseverance and honor continues to inspire future generations, reminding us of the strength and resilience that runs through the veins of those who descend from him.
After the War
After the Civil War, Charles Chauvin returned to St. Louis and reunited with his wife, Henrietta, their three children, and extended family. Adjusting to life after the abolition of slavery, they worked hard to survive, taking jobs as laborers, porters, washers, and carpenters—doing whatever they could to feed their growing family. Between 1860 and 1884, Charles and Henrietta had ten children: Sylvester I (1860), William Francis (1862), Abraham (1865), Peter (1870), Mary Elizabeth (1871), Julia (1873), Rozine (1874), Lincoln (1877), Jerome Alexander (1878), and Louis Ignatius (1884). Lincoln, known as “Link,” is the direct ancestor of the founders of DSLUE.
A Family of Talent
As the Mills-Chauvin children entered adulthood in the late 1800s, they found themselves immersed in St. Louis’ thriving cultural scene. The family’s musical talents shone brightly, with Sylvester, Abraham, Peter, Lincoln, and Louis becoming well-known figures in the city’s popular ragtime movement. Sylvester, Abraham, and Peter played brass instruments, while Lincoln “Link” Chauvin played guitar. The youngest of the siblings, Louis Ignatius Chauvin, emerged as the most celebrated of the family’s musicians.
The Prodigy: Louis I. Chauvin
Louis Chauvin’s musical genius quickly gained him a reputation as one of the finest ragtime musicians of his time. A prodigy among his peers, including ragtime legends Tom Turpin and Sam Patterson, Louis dazzled audiences with his remarkable piano skills. He became a prominent figure in the St. Louis music scene, often collaborating with other talented artists, including Sam Patterson, with whom he formed the Mozart Comedy Four—a popular quartet that performed opera songs and spirituals, blending classical and African American traditions.
In 1904, Louis Chauvin achieved a major milestone when he won a coveted medal for his piano performance at the St. Louis World’s Fair, solidifying his place as a rising star in ragtime music. Although much of his music was never published, his talent left a lasting impression on the genre. Three of his works were published, including “The Moon is Shining in the Skies” with Sam Patterson (1903), “Babe, It’s Too Long Off” with lyrics by Elmer Bowman (1906), and his most famous composition, “Heliotrope Bouquet” (1907), co-written with the iconic Scott Joplin, the “King of Ragtime.”
A Legacy Remembered
Though Louis Chauvin’s life was tragically short—he passed away in 1908 at just 24—his musical legacy endures. His brilliance and contribution to ragtime were brought to life in the 1977 film Scott Joplin, where legendary actor Clifton Davis portrayed Chauvin, alongside Billy Dee Williams as Scott Joplin. Louis’ story, forever intertwined with the vibrant history of St. Louis and the Chauvin family, remains an enduring testament to the talent and perseverance that runs deep in his lineage.
The Chauvin family’s contributions to music, especially Louis’ role in shaping the ragtime era, reflect the resilience and creativity passed down through generations, a legacy DSLUE honors and celebrates today.
Descendants Matter
The systematic erasure of enslaved people’s identities before 1870, coupled with the lack of historical documentation, has created significant obstacles for Black Americans trying to trace their heritage—challenges often referred to as the “1870 Brick Wall.”
In 2019, the founders of DSLUE and other Missouri descendants were able to break through this wall when they were contacted by the SHMR Project. However, by 2021, the project was no longer active, leaving the descendants to continue the work on their own.
Determined to preserve and uncover the history of their ancestors, and driven by a deep desire to honor their legacy, these descendants came together to form the Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE), ensuring their ancestors’ stories would not be forgotten.
Why Revealing This History Restores
Reconnecting family ties severed by slavery is becoming a reality through the dissemination of this history. For example, RaShonda Alexander and Alison McCann, who grew up in the St. Louis metro area near Robin Proudie and her family, only recently discovered their shared heritage. After Robin read an article in a local St. Louis newspaper featuring RaShonda discussing her connection to this history, she reached out to her and later connected with Alison via social media. RaShonda and Alison are descendants of Jack and Sally Queen, cousins to Proteus and Anny Hawkins-Queen.
Queen Descendants Kevin Porter, Robin Proudie,
and Rashonda Alexander
Queen Descendant, Alison McCan
In 1829, Jack and Sally Queen, along with their children Notley, Harrison, Augustine, Isaac, Mary, Severine, and Ann, were forced from the Jesuits’ White Marsh plantation in Maryland to Missouri. They labored at the first Jesuit mission in the Midwest, St. Stanislaus, and helped sustain St. Louis College, now Saint Louis University. Betsy Queen, Henrietta’s mother, along with her siblings—Ned, Robert, Gabriel, Joseph, Matilda, Mary and her child—was also part of this forced migration. Their parents, Proteus and Anny Hawkins-Queen, were brought along as well. Peter Queen, another relative, also endured this harrowing journey.
The two families—Jack and Sally Queen, along with Proteus and Anny Hawkins-Queen—traveled over 1,000 miles along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers on a steamboat to reach Missouri. These forced migrations were a common occurrence as the Jesuits expanded their operations in the Midwest, taking enslaved individuals from Maryland to Missouri.
In 1823, enslaved couples Thomas and Molly Brown, Isaac and Susan (Succy) Hawkins, and Moses and Nancy Queen were the first to be forced from White Marsh to help 12 Belgian and French Jesuits establish their presence in Missouri. Their grueling journey began on foot, continued along the Ohio River on a flatboat, and ended with them fording the Mississippi River to reach their new labor sites.
When the Jesuits took over administration of Saint Louis University in 1829, they forced several enslaved people to labor at the college, including Thomas and Molly Brown, Ned Hawkins, and two of his sisters (whose names remain unrecorded). Matilda and Betsy Hawkins were later sent to work at the college. Matilda married George Tyler, enslaved by Anthony Miltenberger, and Betsy married Abraham Mills, enslaved by a St. Louis family. Both families had children born into slavery at Saint Louis University, baptized at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church.
Matilda Tyler and her children endured enslavement at Saint Louis College (University), but Matilda was determined to secure her freedom. For over a decade, she worked during the day and lent herself out in the evenings, negotiating with the Jesuits to purchase her and her sons’ freedom. An 1847 entry in the Province Treasury ledgers under “Matilda, colored servant” notes, “She is to have her freedom, if she pay $300 to be appropriated to St. Fr. Xavier Church.” By August 1, 1848, through four deposits totaling $300 (approximately $9,000 in today’s dollars), Matilda had successfully purchased her and her youngest son Charles’ freedom.
The revelation of these stories and connections brings to life the resilience and determination of those ancestors, whose legacy of perseverance inspires future generations. The work of reconnecting these scattered histories restores more than lost ties; it restores dignity and humanity to those whose stories were nearly erased by slavery.
Descendants’ Sacred Journey of Discovery Brings New Opportunities
As this history is brought from the shadows into the light, new discoveries offer descendants the hope and healing they’ve long sought. The revealing of these stories has opened a sacred journey, one where the truth about their ancestors, long silenced by history, is finally heard.
Descendants are hopeful that in this era of truth-telling, institutions and corporations that profited from centuries of exploitation will move beyond mere acknowledgments, panel discussions, publications, and press tours. The time has come for these entities to truly atone for their past sins and commit to real acts of reparative justice. Chattel slavery and centuries of anti-Black policies have left deep wounds that still affect descendant communities today, and only through sincere and tangible efforts can historical harms be addressed.
For descendants, the linkages across time, space, and places crystallize the unimaginable reality of the intergenerational harm done to their bloodlines. Unearthing and revealing this history is a significant first step toward healing, but it is not the final one. True repair requires more than research—it demands active restitution and restoration.
The Jesuits of the Central and Southern Province, along with Saint Louis University, must now embody their core values and commitment to justice. This moment calls for them to invoke the Examen, humbly reflecting on their past and embracing a path forward where they fervently, intentionally, and courageously atone for the grave injustices inflicted upon God’s children.
We Are One
DSLUE’s mission is to unite all descendants of the Jesuit slaveholding diaspora, coming together to celebrate the legacy of brilliance, bravery, ingenuity, resistance, and perseverance passed down by their ancestors.
The original five couples brought to Missouri from Maryland are connected by blood to those who were sold to Louisiana enslavers in 1838 to save a struggling Georgetown University. These intertwined histories remind us that we are one family, bound not only by our shared past but by our collective journey toward reclaiming and restoring what was lost.
DSLUE embraces this shared legacy with deep affection, referring to all descendants as cousins. However, we recognize that the experiences and perspectives within the descendant communities are not monolithic. Every descendant should be granted the grace to engage with this season of reclaiming, restoring, and repairing in their own personal and meaningful way.
Yet despite our different paths, We Are One. United in our pursuit of justice, in our reverence for our ancestors, and in our unwavering commitment to building a future that honors the strength and dignity of those who came before us. Together, we will continue the sacred work of healing and repair, ensuring that the legacy of our ancestors lives on in truth, justice, and unity.
