Archive Research Center

Title: Colored American - November 10, 1838

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

The editor shares articles with his readers indicating the growing unrest between the northern and southern states over the issue of slavery.

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

Speaker or author: Turner, Davis D.

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

The speaker points out the changes occurring in the U.S. over the question of slavery. He uses the recent events surrounding the execution of John Brown and South Carolina's threat to secede after the election of Abraham Lincoln as examples.

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

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

Newspaper or publication: Douglass' Monthly

The speaker argued that prejudice and acts of violence against the free people of color in the northern states was instigated by southern extremists in an effort to disrupt the union and encourage unrest. He accused northern newspapers and unjust journalism (fed by southern sympathies) for the current violence against black Americans in the north.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 844 word document (text and images)

Title: Pacific Appeal - January 31, 1863

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)

The writer briefly comments on the continuing political debate over providing African Americans with the Right of Testimony.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Pacific Appeal - July 12, 1862

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)

The writer offers his views on what caused the Civil War.

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

Title: Pacific Appeal - July 25, 1863

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)

The writer comments on an article published in the Evening Journal newspaper regarding Attorney General Edward Bates' opinion on citizenship.

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

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal (1862 - 188?)

Brief note telling readers that the Fourth of July was celebrated with much enthusiasm despite the Civil War.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Provincial Freeman - June 10, 1854

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

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

In a letter to the editor, the writer describes two types of aboltionists: both want freedom for the slave, but one type wants this freedom limited and restricted. There are more of this type than of those working for true human equality. His view of freedom includes human equality and civil rights, and it's this view that he encourages among those who claim to be abolitionists.

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

Title: Voice of the Fugitive - May 21, 1851

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)

The writer provides news of the stirrings of discontent that are leading to civil war in the U.S.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Voice of the Fugitive - September 23, 1852

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Voice of the Fugitive (1851 - 1852)

The writer responds to an article regarding a speech by Josiah Henson published in another newspaper. The article complained that Rev. Henson's comments regarding prejudice in the "white Church" were unwarranted.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - April 13, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

Using the recent census results and comparing them with results from previous years, the writer shows the increase in slave and free African American populations in various states. In 1860, Virginia is shown as the state with the largest slave population. The writer predicts emancipation and even sketches its effect on population numbers in the southern states.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - April 6, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer expresses his ideas on the increasing political tension over the issue of slavery that seems to be stirring the country as the southern states secede from the Union.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - February 16, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer comments on the increase in weaponry that is accumulating in the southern states.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 12, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer tells his readers that mobs of poor white people in the southern states are stirring with thoughts of secession. Secession and violence seem the only solution to poverty and hunger for the poor in the South. The writer predicts that if things don't improve in six months, the general government will have to defend itself from the mobs.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 19, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer comments on a speech delivered by William H. Seward. The atmosphere in the country is unsettled as state after state secedes from the Union and everywhere is heard calls for war.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 26, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

As Southern states secede from the Union, free African Americans from South Carolina are arriving in New York. Free people of color are leaving the south as fast as they can fearing they will lose their freedom if they stay.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - March 23, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

This is the first mention of civil war in the editorials for this newspaper. The writer comments on a letter to the editor of the New York Tribune suggesting that to encourage emancipation, slave holders should be compensated for their slaves.

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

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - March 23, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

Brief commentary on the unsettled state of the country as it approaches war. Free African Americans are volunteering to fight; and slaves are becoming increasingly sensitive to what is happening around them.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - November 16, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer comments on a portion of a speech delivered by Abraham Lincoln to the Swedish Minister. This speech addresses the U.S.'s commitment to "maintain the rights of human nature, and the man of capacity for self-government." The writer wonders how this ties in with the current social status of African Americans, both free and enslaved.

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