Black Abolitionist Archive

Subtitle: Robert Campbell

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Campbell, Robert, of the Niger Valley Exploring Party

Newspaper or publication: AD Draft -- Royal Geological Society Archives, London, England

-- Copyright Permission Pending -- Handwritten speech detailing the findings of a geographical expedition made by two explorers: Martin Delany and Robert Campbell. The text details the land mass, the villages, the people, the climate, and the general discoveries made of Western Africa. (This transcription includes the original editing marks made by the writers.)

Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 1,610 word document (text and images)

Title: Mary Ann Shadd [Cary]

Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893

Newspaper or publication: British Banner

Brief speech regarding fugitive slaves who had escaped to Canada and were now prospering there. The speaker called for action to promote the freedom to settle in Canada by all those who desired to do so regardless of race.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 200 word document (text and image)

Title: Samuel Ringgold Ward

Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817

Newspaper or publication: British Banner

Brief speech delivered while seconding a resolution for continued missionary efforts in Ireland.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 350 word document (text and images)

Title: Samuel Ringgold Ward

Speaker or author: Ward, Samuel Ringgold, b. 1817

Newspaper or publication: British Banner

Speech given before a British audience explaining the fugitive slave's flight to freedom in Canada. The speaker noted the benefits that Canada offered to the fleeing slave compared with the harsh life of slavery. (Speech 15032 is a duplicate of this speech.)

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,498 word document (text and images)

Title: William Craft

Speaker or author: Craft, William

Newspaper or publication: British Friend

Brief overview of speech describing the life of the average slave.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 204 word document (text and image)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: British Friend

Speaker expressed his appreciation for all the kindness he and his fellow travelers had received in England and Germany.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 195 word document (text and image)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets

A farewell sermon delivered before the Fifth Congregational Church of Hartford, Connecticut, as the speaker left to devote a two year leave of absence to classical study. The speaker also requested the time so that he could deal with his fugitive status. The sermon itself addressed Paul's journey through Macedonia and seemed a metaphor for the speaker's upcoming absence.

Description of file(s): PDF 22 page, 6,197 word document (text and images)

Title: Charles Lenox Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Society

Speech against the plans of the American Colonization Society. The speaker expressed his belief that colonization was inspired by the institution of American slavery as a way of solving the issue of slavery without allowing freed slaves to become members of American society.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,577 word document (text and images)

Title: William H. Johnson

Speaker or author: Johnson, William Henry, 1833-1918.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Albany Institute of History and Art

The speaker traced the history of freedom in the U.S. during a July 4th celebration in Philadelphia. He emphasized the irony of continued slavery in a country founded on freedom and liberty for all.

Description of file(s): PDF 15 page, 5,184 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- American Baptist Historical Society -- Pamphlet Collection

Sermon given during a meeting of the New York Central College Association stressing the law of God as greater government for human beings than the law of man.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 3,428 word document (text and images)

Title: Samuel H. Davis

Speaker or author: Davis, Samuel H.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Bell, Ed. Minutes and Proceedings of the National Negro Conventions

Excerpt of lengthy speech delivered before the National Convention of Colored Citizens held at Buffalo, New York. The speech addresses issues of slavery, abolition, and the plight of free African Americans. The speaker said he wished not to focus on grievances but rather on how all Americans of every race can live together better. Emphasis is placed on the moral and political condition of African Americans at that time.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 2,338 word document (text and images)

Title: William Wells Brown

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Bibliotheque Nationale -- Paris, France

Speech presented in France before a French audience. The original speech is published in French and translated for an English speaking audience (both versions are shown). The speech is a brief thank you to the French government for abolishing slavery in France and the French colonies. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 141 word document (text and image)

Title: William Wells Brown

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Bibliotheque Nationale -- Paris, France

Speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Bill stressing the cruelties of its use. The speaker emphasized that the cruelty of slavery was both physical and emotional as human bodies and human families were broken apart in similar fashion. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 732 word document (text and images)

Title: William Craft

Speaker or author: Craft, William

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Bibliotheque Nationale -- Paris, France

Speech describing the speaker and his wife's escape from slavery. The horrors and injustices of slavery are emphasized.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,779 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Bibliotheque Nationale -- Paris, France

Speech presented in Paris, France before a French speaking audience. The original speech is published in French and translated for an English speaking audience (only the English version is available here). The speaker emphasized that he believed the continued injustice and oppression of slavery would contribute to war in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 506 word document (text and image)

Title: William Howard Day

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Birmingham, England -- Public Libraryq

The speaker presented an overview of the goals of the African Aid Society to help fugitive slaves who had escaped to Canada immigrate to Africa. He blamed the over-reliance on the economic value of cotton for continued slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 374 word document (text and image)

Title: George Thomas Downing

Speaker or author: Downing, George T. (George Thomas), 1819-1903

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker expressed suspicion at the request of the African Civilization Society for help with those in need in Liberia. He believed this was a backhanded way for the colonization society to get funds.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 311 word document (text and image)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

Speaker or author: Garnet, Henry Highland, 1815-1882

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker responded to remarks criticizing the African Civilization Society as being established only as a money making scheme. The speaker stressed that it was a very valuable means to educate African American children and to improve the race in general.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 394 word document (text and image)

Title: John Mercer Langston

Speaker or author: Langston, John Mercer, 1829-1897.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Brief overview of a speech made at the National Convention of Colored Men held in Syracuse, New York. The speaker emphasized that all races were made slaves if the system of oligarchy were allowed to continue.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 197 word document (text and image)

Title: Paschal Beverly Randolph

Speaker or author: Randolph, Paschal Beverly, 1825-1874

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Impassioned speech urging patience, persistence, and patriotism as the Civil War continued. The speaker emphasized to his audience that liberty and justice would prevail.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 886 word document (text and images)