Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: Francis Ellen Watkins Harper

Speaker or author: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, 1825-1911.

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief overview of speech expressing concerns over the direction of national policy after the Civil War and during Reconstruction.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 203 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sweat Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief overview of a speech regarding the refusal of the government to arm and accept as soldiers African Americans during the Civil War. This situation would alter as the war neared its end.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 440 word document (text and images)

Title: Amos G. Beman

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

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech regarding the principles, goals and value of the New York Committee of Vigilance in its assistance to people of color.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,773 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: John S. Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

The speaker addressed the issue of categorizing human beings in terms of race. He noted how "...in undertaking to prove too much they prove nothing." He touched on the history of slavery and denounced the Fugitive Slave Law, predicting its downfall.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,419 word document (text and images)

Title: Leonard A. Grimes

Speaker or author: Grimes, Leonard A., 1815-1874

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech in which the speaker urged all African American men in New England to take up arms against the Confederacy since they had now been given the opportunity to do so. He reminded his listeners that they had offered to help fight the war in the past and had been refused. Now was the time to prove themselves worthy of the opportunity to fight that the government was giving to them.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 288 word document (text and image)

Title: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Speaker or author: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, 1825-1911.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of speech emphasizing the speaker's concerns regarding national government policy on Reconstruction following the Civil War.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 547 word document (text and images)

Title: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

Speaker or author: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, 1825-1911.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of speech expressing concern regarding the direction and motivation of Reconstruction efforts under the guidance of President Andrew Johnson.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 598 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: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given in response to a speech by Daniel Webster in which he called for the surrender of fugitive slaves and encouraged the colonization of Africa by "nominally free" African Americans living in the north.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 756 word document (text and images)

Title: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech encouraging nominally free black citizens to exercise their right to vote. The speaker encouraged women to influence the men in their lives to vote. He noted that while women were still denied the right to vote, they had a voice through their use of influence.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 201 word document (text and image)

Title: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered to welcome home William Wells Brown who returned from England a free man after being rescued from slavery and fugitive status by "British philanthropy."

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 570 word document (text and images)

Title: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief speech given during the dedication of a grove set aside for church services. The speaker emphasized that the Church had become, by its refusal to aid in the anti-slavery movement, an implied supporter of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 157 word document (text and image)

Title: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. The speaker emphasized the great work and efforts the society has realized over the years.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 489 word document (text and images)

Title: William C. Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the First Independent Baptist Female Society and the church where their meetings were held. The speaker gave an overview of the history of the church and parish, and the accomplishments of the organization.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,493 word document (text and images)

Title: William Cooper Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech offering a brief biography of the life of Crispus Attucks and his martyrdom at the Boston Massacre in 1770. The speaker included a letter by the grandson of Samuel Maverick, Attucks' master.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,312 word document (text and images)

Title: William Cooper Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech expressing praise for a recent speech given before Congress by Charles Sumner regarding equal school rights for African Americans. The speaker also praised the life and recent death of Reverend Theodore Parker. He emphasized some of Reverend Parker's accomplishments.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 666 word document (text and images)

Title: William Cooper Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech honoring the martyrdom of Crispus Attucks, the first person to die in the Revolutionary War of 1776. The speaker offered the patriotism of Attucks act that day as an example of an expression of loyalty and deep love of country that all African Americans are capable of demonstrating.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 407 word document (text and images)

Title: William Cooper Nell

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech delivered at a commemoration of the death of Crispus Attucks, the first man killed at the beginning of the American Revolution. The speaker expressed his views about the causes of the current civil war and his beliefs in a positive resolution to the fighting.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 674 word document (text and images)