Speaker or author: Burns, Anthony, 1834-1862
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience as a fugitive slave. The speech was given during a drive to raise money to purchase the speaker's freedom. (Includes MP3 audio file.)
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 857 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Reason, Charles Lewis, 1818-1893
Newspaper or publication: Pennsylvania Freeman
Speech dedicating a library for the Institute for Colored Youth stressing the benefits of education to the elevation of the race.
Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,096 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Freeman's Journal (Dublin)
Speech given in Dublin regarding the current condition of slaves and slavery in the U.S. in an effort to rally support for the abolitionist cause in America.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,246 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Remond, Charles Lenox, 1810-1873
Newspaper or publication: Pennsylvania Freeman
Brief speech regarding the question of which political party will succeed in abolishing slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 221 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Kelly, Edmund, b. 1818
Newspaper or publication: Freeman's Journal
Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience within the system of slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 356 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Kelly, Edmund, b. 1818
Newspaper or publication: Freeman's Journal
Anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience with slavery. Although his father was Irish, his mother's race determined his condition as property of a slaveholder.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 745 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Morris, Emmanuel, waiter
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Brief speech delivered by a black waiter during a meeting of "colored citizens of St. Catharines." The speaker stressed the prejudice and insults he and other hotel employees had suffered from both employers and customers.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 158 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.
Newspaper or publication: Christian Freeman
Speech given on the injustices and prejudices against people of color in the Christian churches with emphasis placed on how this treatment is not in accordance with Christian teaching.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 967 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: White, Jacob C., d. 1872
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Brief speech given by a student from an African American high school to the governor of Pennsylvania as he made a tour of black schools in his state.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 379 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Delany, Martin Robison, 1812-1885
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
Lengthy speech detailing the various ways states were dealing with racial issues. The speaker also touched on issues of colonization and amelioration.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 pages, 4,424 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman
The speaker opened a debate on the merits of emigration to Canada by the free people of color. She emphasized the benefits of the climate, economy, opportunities in agriculture and property ownership, and the positive character of the Canadian people.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,482 word document (text and images)
Title: Provincial Freeman - 1858
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
[Copyright permission granted August 2007.] The writer tells her readers that the newspaper usually remains independent in its political reporting, but that there's a vast difference between being independent and being neutral. She expresses a brief opinion of the current political atmosphere in the U.S.
Description of file(s): three scanned, two columned, handwritten pages
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 12, 1856
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer gives a brief overview of an unruly meeting he attended of the Dumas Literary Society.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 12, 1856
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer offers a brief overview of the settlement of Buxton and the 140 families living there.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 14, 1855
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The editor comments on the debate about whether or not to allow children in Canadian public schools to sing what are considered "Negro Songs."
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 14, 1855
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer laments the continued perception among the Canadian public that people of African descent are unable to care for themselves. The automatic assumption that these people must be clothed, fed, and sheltered is degrading to the race.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer shares a portion of a published opinion by John Mitchell on the idea of immigration for people of African descent currently living in Canada and the U.S.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page (portion missing)
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer gives an overview of Reverend Duff's lecture regarding his missionary work in India.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer describes the Elgin Settlement established by Reverend William King. This Christian community offers a way for people of African descent to live together in peace, harmony and prosperity.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer tells her readers that recently C. C. Foote of the Refugees Home Society has taken action to obtain property from two of the home's tenants.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer responds briefly to a letter the newspaper received from the Refugees Home. The letter indicates the humiliating treatment in the name of charity that C. C. Foote's is providing there. Fugitives arriving in Canada are looking for freedom and equality, not pity and handouts.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
From a source at the Refugee Home, the writer learns of a legal battle to obtain land for the Home from a deceased settler.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The editor gives a brief announcement of the arrival of Miss Amelia Freeman, an artist who is visiting Chatham.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 21, 1855
Speaker or author: S.
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The writer comments on a letter regarding Canadian immigration of fugitive slaves written by Mr. Gaines, U.S. politician. He emphasizes the discrepancies in Mr. Gaines' thinking and political rhetoric.
Description of file(s): three scanned newspaper pages (five columns)
Title: Provincial Freeman - April 22, 1854
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)
The editor offers an open letter to his readers explaining the criteria to use for submissions to the newspaper.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column