Black Abolitionist Archive

Title: William Howard Day

Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900

Newspaper or publication: Chatham Planet

Overview of short speech regarding the history and current state of slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 207 word document (text and image)

Title: William Howard Day

Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900

Newspaper or publication: Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet

Overview of speech delivered to celebrate the completion of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable project connecting England to the U.S. The speaker noted that "...difficulties measure progress..." and used this as a metaphor for emancipation.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,726 word document (text and images)

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885

Newspaper or publication: Chatham Tri-Weekly Planet (with portions taken from the Chatham Weekly Planet)

The speaker gave an account of his recent explorations in Liberia including geological and geographical information. He also stressed the kindness, curiosity and willingness to learn of the people he encountered in Africa.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 630 word document (text and images)

Title: Sarah Parker Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Sarah Parker, 1826-1887?

Newspaper or publication: Manchester Weekly Times

Impassioned speech delivered before an English audience. The speaker recounted examples of the horrors and moral degradation of slavery. She noted that the economics of cotton ruled the mind and morals of slaveholders. She stressed that slavery had not only denied freedom to millions of human beings, but had created a population of poor white people who could not earn a livable wage due to its existence.

Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,862 word document (text and images)

Title: John Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, John, fl. 1854

Newspaper or publication: Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal

Narrative regarding the life of John Brown and his experiences growing up as a slave.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,808 word document (text and images)

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal

Speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Law, and describing the history of slavery as a history of legalized abuse and injustice.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 1,989 word document (text and images)

Title: William Craft

Speaker or author: Craft, William

Newspaper or publication: Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal

Speech describing the speaker's experiences as he and his wife made their escape from slavery. The speaker emphasized the cruelty and misery that slaves were enduring daily.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 2,263 word document (text and images)

Title: Robert Banks

Speaker or author: Banks, Robert, fl.

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Address given before the Female Dorcas Society of Buffalo regarding the positive influence of women in the abolition of slavery and aid to former slaves.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,475 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: Worthy of Imitation.

Title: Weekly Advocate - February 18, 1837

Speaker or author: Bell, Philip A.

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

The editor responds to a letter of praise from William S. Jennings. Mr. Jennings complimented the newspaper and its work towards providing information and knowledge to African Americans. He also contributed to these efforts by finding new subscribers for the newspaper.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Awful Calumnies.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 21, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

The editor defended the African American population of New York against an editorial from another source expressing the view that "hundreds, yes thousands..." of black Americans were preying on the white population. The article had been published warning the people of New York that "The city is beset by bands of bold marauding blacks, who stop at no atrocity, to carry out their fell purpose of plunder and robbery."

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: The Colored Man's Perils.

Title: Weekly Advocate - February 25, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

An account of the experiences of two recently captured fugitive slaves who wait in prison in New York. A visiting minister spoke with them and recounted their stories to the press.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Editorial Difficulties.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 28, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Brief explanation by the editor of the challenges and difficulties faced by the publishers of the Weekly Advocate newspaper. He promises that the paper will continue one way or another, and vows to work hard to make this happen.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 28, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Editorial comment on the idea of "Quarter Day" that calls for certain portions of the population of New York to move from their rented dwellings every twelve months.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: Our Undertaking.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 7, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Editorial describing the benefits of newspapers published by and for African Americans. The writer emphasizes what makes this newspaper different from others.

Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages

Subtitle: Our Undertaking.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 14, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Editorial describing the benefits of newspapers published by and for African Americans. The writer emphasizes what makes this newspaper different from others. (See editorial 01671)

Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages

Subtitle: Do Not Agitate the Subject!

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 28, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Editorial response to ministers who suggest that abolition meetings shouldn't be held in churches.

Description of file(s): one scanned, one columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: True Principles.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 7, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Letter to the editor questioning the moral motives of the newspaper. The editor's reply expresses the view that the Weekly Advocate does not encourage vice and immoral actions.

Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages

Subtitle: The Essayist.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 28, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

Poetic essay stressing temperance and a mindful focus on physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page

Subtitle: To Our Friends and Subscribers.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 21, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

The editor appealed to subscribers for financial backing to continue the newspaper publication. He emphasized the benefits of the newspaper to the African American community.

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

Subtitle: Our Prospects.

Title: Weekly Advocate - January 14, 1837

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Advocate (1837)

The editor called for increased subscriptions to the newspaper. He emphasized the benefits of this type of social connection for African Americans in the community.

Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page