Black Abolitionist Archive

Subtitle: The Thirty-Ninth Congress.

Title: Anglo-African - December 23, 1865

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)

The writer comments on the proceedings of the first session of the Thirty-Ninth Congress. Debate about laws and civil rights for the newly freed slaves after Reconstruction made this session an important one.

Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)

Title: Augustus William Hanson

Speaker or author: Augustus William Hanson

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Rambling speech regarding the inherent rights of human beings in a free society regardless of race.

Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,785 word document (text and images)

Title: Abraham D. Shadd

Speaker or author: Shadd, Abraham D.

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech given on the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies stressing the political implications of this and the continued slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,565 word document (text and images)

Title: Theodore S. Wright

Speaker or author: Wright, Theodore S. (Theodore Sedgwick), 1797-1847

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech regarding the negative effects of prejudice on people of all races in terms of self-esteem issues, and educational and moral advancement.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,528 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Smith, James McCune, 1813-1865

Newspaper or publication: Edinburgh Observer

Speech delivered before a group of abolitionists in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a breakfast meeting. The speaker presented the perspective of the black abolitionist in the struggle for emancipation, and emphasized the politics involved as well as the injustice of slavery and slaveholding.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 970 word document (text and images)

Title: Amos G. Beman

Speaker or author: Beman, Amos Gerry, 1812-1874

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Excerpt of a speech delivered before the Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut and published in the Emancipator newspaper. The newspaper notes that: "Mr. B. endeavors successfully, in his address, to show, that the colored race may be elevated in this country, in respect to property, intelligence, and moral worth; which he declares are the elements of true happiness and prosperity. Having concluded his argument, he makes an eloquent and earnest appeal to his hearers, to inspire them with resolution to overcome the obstacles in the way of their elevation." (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 657 word document (text and images)

Title: David Ruggles

Speaker or author: Ruggles, David, 1810-1849

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech delivered before a public meeting recounting the experience of Eliza Drummings at the hands of men who were helping her escape slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 453 word document (text and images)

Title: William G. Hamilton

Speaker or author: William G. Hamilton

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Address delivered before the Annual Convention of the Free People of Color of the United States involving issues of emancipation and colonization of Africa.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,556 word document (text and images)

Title: Theodore S. Wright

Speaker or author: Wright, Theodore S. (Theodore Sedgwick), 1797-1847

Newspaper or publication: Herald of Freedom

Speech given before the New York State Anti-Slavery Society on the acceptance and adoption of the annual report with emphasis placed on the efforts toward emancipation that the society had accomplished since its inception.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,502 word document (text and images)

Title: Solomon R. Alexander

Speaker or author: Alexander, S. R.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given on the anniversary of the emancipation of slavery in the British West Indies; and comparing this with the continuation of slavery in the U.S. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 553 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles V. Caples

Speaker or author: Caples, Charles V.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Short address on the second anniversary of the Colored Young Men's Debating Society in which the speaker acknowledged the benefits and successes of the society.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 320 word document (images and text)

Title: Isaiah G. DeGrasse

Speaker or author: De Grasse, Isaiah G.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Spoken essay given by a 15 year old boy at an exhibition of the New York African Free School in 1828 regarding his experience with slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 379 word document (text and images)

Title: John T. Hilton

Speaker or author: Hilton, John T.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered on the anniversary of British emancipation of the West Indies, and a comparison of this with the continuation of slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 260 word document (text and images)

Title: John T. Hilton

Speaker or author: Hilton, John T.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given at Marlboro Chapel to commemorate the arrival in Boston from England of William Lloyd Garrison and N. P. Rogers. An invitation for the event was issued reading: "all abolitionists of Boston and vicinity, irrespective of complexion, respectfully requested to unite in this public reception of our esteemed friends and co-adjutors in the cause of universal emancipation."

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 635 word document (text and images)

Title: William C. Nell

Speaker or author: Nell, William C. (William Cooper), 1816-1874.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given on the anniversary of British emancipation of the West Indies with a comparison of this act to the continuation of slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,504 word document (text and images)

Title: William C. Nell

Speaker or author: Nell, William C. (William Cooper), 1816-1874.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given at Marlboro Chapel to commemorate the arrival in Boston from England of William Lloyd Garrison and N. P. Rogers. An invitation for the event was issued reading: "all abolitionists of Boston and vicinity, irrespective of complexion, respectfully requested to unite in this public reception of our esteemed friends and co-adjutors in the cause of universal emancipation."

Description of file(s): PDF one page, 203 word document (text and images)

Title: David Nickens

Speaker or author: Nickens, David, ca. 1794-1838

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

An address delivered on July 5th, 1832 regarding "cultivating a friendly union among ourselves as oppressed people." A processional march to Walnut St., a four mile canal boat ride (with approximately 100 persons)on the Govenor Washington canal boat, and a church picnic followed.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,283 word document (text and images)

Title: Peter Osborne

Speaker or author: Osborne, Peter, fl. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Address delivered on July 5th, the date celebrated to call attention to the "lack of independence" for slaves and as a form of protest to the July 4th celebration.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 534 word document (text and images)

Title: Nathaniel Paul

Speaker or author: Paul, Nathaniel, 1792 or 3-1839

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech regarding the influence of Christianity and British slave laws in the abolition of U.S. slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,034 word document (text and images)

Title: Nathaniel Paul

Speaker or author: Paul, Nathaniel, 1792 or 3-1839

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given before the Glasgow Emancipation Society recognizing the society's accomplishments and encouraging them to continue their efforts towards emancipation.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,580 word document (images and text)