Archive Research Center

Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865

Speaker or author: Hamilton, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)

Letter to the editor stressing the importance of education to African Americans. Elevation involves political advancement, influence and power, and this is not possible for those without education.

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

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech welcoming the return of Parker Pillsbury from his two year trip abroad. The speaker stressed his agreement with Mr. Pillsbury that slaveholders should not be permitted to join the Union (of northern states).

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 668 word document (text and images)

Title: Colored American - August 4, 1838

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer comments on a report regarding the trial of a young man accused of embezzlement. He cautions the young men among his readers to focus on character and ethics in their working lives.

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

Title: Colored American - December 2, 1837

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer hopes that the recent murder of a newspaper owner in Illinois will cause the Church to change its position and begin to preach against slavery. By its silence (and even its own slave ownership in some cases), the Church conveyes a message of acceptance of slavery to its congregations. The writer emphasizes the power of the Church to sway public opinion and he hopes this event will stir ministers to action that will put an end to slavery and prejudice.

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

Title: Colored American - July 8, 1837

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer stresses the importance of education. The pursuit of knowledge is not only economically beneficial, but also pleasurable.

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

Title: Colored American - May 27, 1837

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer shares a conversation he had with an advocate of colonization who justified his belief that colonization was the only solution to the "problem" of slavery. The Colonizationist believed the Abolitionists were disturbing the "happy union" with their efforts, and that colonization posed to the only hope for the peace and happiness of all concerned.

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

Title: Colored American - May 27, 1837

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Brief anecdote designed to persuade the reader to refrain from drinking alcohol.

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

Title: Colored American - October 28, 1837

Speaker or author: Sears, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The writer notices that young people are attending plays at a local theater. He consideres this an unhealthy practice and quotes several Greek philosophers who agreed with his point of view.

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

Title: Martin Robison Delany

Speaker or author: Delany, Martin & 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)

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)

Speaker or author: Forten, Robert Bridges

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

An address delivered before the Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society of Philadelphia regarding freedom from slavery and the moral responsibilities that this freedom may include.

Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 3,973 word document (text and images)

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

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)

Speech encouraging young African American men to consider settling in Africa. The speaker's message is subtle and couched in terms of exploration and racial pride.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 288 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Campbell, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter

The speaker suggested that the best way to end slavery was to cultivate cotton in Africa. He believed that if European countries could purchase cotton from Africa and refuse to buy from slaveholding countries. This would eliminate the main reason for slavery in the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 314 word document (text and images)

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

Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)

The speaker discusses his travels into Central Africa. The newspaper emphasizes that learning as much as possible about Africa is important and that the lecture is not offered to encourage immigration to Africa.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 228 word document (text and image)

Speaker or author: Gordon, Robert

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Institute of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets

Sermon delivered in London to celebrate the August 1st anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker gave a history of slavery in the U.S., compared this with the enslaving of the Jews in the Biblical era, and praised Great Britain for its progressive stance on abolishing slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 21 page, 7,356 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Hamilton, Robert

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Overview of speech offered in protest of the Fugitive Slave Bill that was contributing to the kidnapping of nominally free black citizens of New York. Emphasis was placed on the recent experience in this regard of James Hamlet, who escaped after being kidnapped to be sold into slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 318 word document (text and image)

Speaker or author: Morris, Robert, 1823-1882

Newspaper or publication: Printed Copy -- Rhode Island Historical Society -- Newspaper Clipping File

The speaker discussed his opinion of the Dred Scott decision.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 310 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Morris, Robert, 1823-1882

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given after presentation of a portrait of John T. Hilton was given to the Masonic Lodge. The speaker stressed that while this was "...our first effort to transmit to posterity a portrait of any of our public men...", he regretted that portraits of other African American heroes had not been included in this effort.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,095 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Eloquent speech in which the speaker reinforced the precepts of the abolitionists' cause. He said that philanthropy would help abolition by providing the energy to express: "...I am in earnest; I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will not retreat a single inch; and I will be heard."

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,385 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech denouncing the actions of Paul Brown, Jr., United States Commissioner, in his handling of the case of a fugitive slave. This speech followed a resolution issued by the meeting that said, "Resolved, That every man who directly or indirectly aids in the execution of the Fugitive Slave bill merits the contempt of humanity, is a traitor to God and his country, and becomes an object to be despised by everything thinking being."

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 680 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech given to commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation and praise Abraham Lincoln for freeing the slaves.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 658 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Law, emphasizing the lack of representation and civil rights of African Americans in the structure of U. S. government.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,537 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given in welcome and congratuations of Parker Pillsbury on his return to the U.S. The speaker stressed his idea describing "disunion abolitionists" as those who believe slaveholders should not be welcomed into the Union (of northern states).

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 665 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: Pennsylvania Freeman

The speaker described the injustices suffered by the nominally free black citizens along with the fugitive slaves in a society that continues to stress slavery over justice and humanity. He noted the irony in the fact that the free black citizen must pay school taxes even though he is not allowed to send his children to the school where his tax money is spent.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 419 word document (text and images)

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Brief speech in which the speaker expressed his view that it didn't matter how slavery was abolished (through war, governmental interference, rebellion or peaceful means) as long as it was done.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 313 word document (text and image)