Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.
Newspaper or publication: North Star
Eulogy for John Quincy Adams stressing the high points and low points of his career. The speaker compared the state of the country to the Roman Empire in its last days.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 4,143 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Public Library -- Schomburg Collection
Lengthy and eloquent eulogy on the life and character of Thomas Clarkson. The speaker spoke about Clarkson's early years, his struggles, and his accomplishments. He included the history of slavery, the current situation with the slaves and freed people of color, and his hopes and beliefs in a positive future.
Description of file(s): PDF 60 page, 17,894 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M..
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1979) Vol. 1, pp. 139-166
Eloquent, rational, and meaningful speech delivered before the Convention of the Colored People of Pennsylvania expressing a legal argument for civil rights. The speaker asked that African Americans be given their civil rights, be allowed to vote, hold jobs equal to those of the white population, and be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy citizens of the U.S.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 480 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M.
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Overview of a rousing speech denouncing laws against freedom that were being enacted across the country. The speaker pays particular attention to encouraging the repeal of the Personal Liberty Law.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 382 word document (text and images)
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Title: Anglo-African - August 26, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer tells his readers that while the white portion of the population is prejudiced against the black portion, the black portion feels no prejudice against the white. He emphasizes that what African Americans feel towards their white counterparts is actually a lack of trust and not prejudice.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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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)
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Title: Anglo-African - November 11, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer offers his views regarding the current governmental ideas on Reconstruction after the Civil War. He tells his readers that he speaks for all African Americans in saying that the country should work towards ensuring freedom for all and providing all American people with the rights of citizenship regardless of color.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
Title: Anglo-African - November 11, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer offers his views regarding the current governmental ideas on Reconstruction after the Civil War. He tells his readers that he speaks for all African Americans in saying that the country should work towards ensuring freedom for all and providing all American people with the rights of citizenship regardless of color.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Anglo-African - October 7, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer expresses the fears that permeate African American communities that the white slaveholders will demand a return to the system of slavery, and be granted this by the government. The majority of African Americans, however, are determined to resist and not allow this to happen without a fight.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns) (blank sections throughout)
Title: Anglo-African - October 7, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer expresses the fears that permeate African American communities that the white slaveholders will demand a return to the system of slavery, and be granted this by the government. The majority of African Americans, however, are determined to resist and not allow this to happen without a fight.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns) (blank sections throughout)
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Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer responds to a note published in another newspaper saying that free African Americans will not be content to rank themselves among those newly freed slaves who that author believes do not yet have the "rudiments of civilization."
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer responds to a note published in another newspaper saying that free African Americans will not be content to rank themselves among those newly freed slaves who that author believes do not yet have the "rudiments of civilization."
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer offers an overview of the situation in the British West Indies after emancipation. Although the feared violence never manifested, the growing tension between the newly freed slaves and former slave-owners was more pronounced than previously believed.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Anglo-African - September 9, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer responds to a lengthy article published in the Tribune newspaper containing a discussion of the physical, intellectual, and emotional condition of African Americans. The writer expresses his frustration with the continuous fascination white citizens seem to have with categorizing and explaining African American behavior now that the slaves are free.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Anglo-African Magazine - January, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer stresses the strength and determination of African Americans as they have endured injustices over the history of African slavery and prejudice. He mentions several anecdotal stories to prove his point, and assures his readers that African Americans will not only prevail but continue to outnumber the white population.
Description of file(s): three scanned magazine pages (7 columns)
Title: Anglo-African Magazine - January, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer stresses the strength and determination of African Americans as they have endured injustices over the history of African slavery and prejudice. He mentions several anecdotal stories to prove his point, and assures his readers that African Americans will not only prevail but continue to outnumber the white population.
Description of file(s): three scanned magazine pages (7 columns)
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Title: Anglo-African Magazine - September, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer expresses the fears most African Americans hold now: that Congress will pass laws that will resume the slave trade in the U.S.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, magazine page
Title: Anglo-African Magazine - September, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer expresses the fears most African Americans hold now: that Congress will pass laws that will resume the slave trade in the U.S.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, magazine page
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)
Speaker or author: Steward, Austin
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Onondaga County Public Library [Coles, Howard W., The Cradle of Freedom, (1941), pp. 23-26]
At the termination of slavery in the U.S., the speaker reflected on what had been an accepted economic mainstay in the system of slavery and what potential for change was now available for all U.S. citizens. He urged his audience to take advantage of the opportunity to prosper by adopting a Christian lifestyle, avoiding "hard spirits," and focusing on civil rights.
Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,307 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given at the opening of the Albany Convention with emphasis placed on the political and civil rights of free people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 466 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given during a convention held to adopt measures to ensure the franchisement of the free people of color in the free states. Attendees were encouraged to exercise their rights even if they didn't succeed in order to continue the struggle toward total political and social freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 791 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given during a convention held to adopt measures to ensure the franchisement of the free people of color in the free states. Attendees were encouraged to exercise their rights even if they didn't succeed in order to continue the struggle toward total political and social freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 791 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Stewart, Austin, fl. 1840
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech given at the opening of the Albany Convention with emphasis placed on the political and civil rights of free people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 466 word document (text and images)
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Title: Black Republican - April 15, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The editor discusses the right of suffrage and a recent government petition regarding this signed by five thousand African Americans.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column