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Title: Abner H. Francis

Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.

Newspaper or publication: North Star

Speech delivered to celebrate the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker recounted the history of slavery, the successes of those who had overcome slavery in the past, and the potential of those abolitionists who he believes will abolish slavery forever after.

Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 4,145 word document (text and images)

Title: Alexander Crummell

Speaker or author: Crummell, Alexander, 1819-1898

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter

Speech given during the annual meeting of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society attended mostly by members of the Society of Friends. The speaker describes the progress and successes of the abolition movement throughout the world.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 4,506 word document (text and images)

Title: Alexander Crummell

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)

Title: H. Ford Douglass

Speaker or author: Douglass, H. Ford

Newspaper or publication: Pine and Palm

The speaker said he believed the first element of success for African Americans was establishing a "nationality." His approach to the abolition of slavery was philosophical. Slavery was not rational in his view and slaveholders, he believed, must come to realize this.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,294 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter

Speech before a British audience condemning slavery in the U.S. The speaker pointed out the irony of the American stance on freedom when it continued to enslave millions of people. He also praised the work of British abolitionists.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,445 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Gateshead Observer

Passionate speech regarding the suffering of human beings under slavery in the U.S. The speaker emphasized the abuses and injustices inflicted upon "... as many human beings held in bondage in the United States as there were inhabitants...in all Scotland."

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,246 word document (text and images)

Title: J. W. C. Pennington

Speaker or author: Pennington, James W. C.

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Connecticut Historical Society -- Pamphlets

The speaker approached the subject of emancipation on the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. He traced the history of emancipation from the 1700's, and emphasized through example the clever ways some slave holders continued the system without calling it slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 16 page, 4,467 word document (text and images)

Title: Jacob C. White, Jr.

Speaker or author: White, Jacob C., d. 1872

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

Speech given during the celebration of the August 1st anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker praised this action, although some have seen it as a failure and the ruin of Jamaica.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 854 word document (text and images)

Title: Jehiel C. Beman

Speaker or author: Beman, Jehiel C.

Newspaper or publication: Emancipator

Speech given during the celebration of the August 1st anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies, with emphasis placed on the continued slavery of millions of human beings in the U.S. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 254 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Historical Society -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker traced the history of the human struggle for freedom, justice and liberty. He emphasized that the struggle for emancipation of the slaves was part of this universal, human struggle for freedom. The speaker stressed that all human beings have an innate desire to be free, and this is their birthright.

Description of file(s): PDF 25 page, 8,341 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

Speaker or author: Martin, J. Sella (John Sella), b. 1832

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker appealed to the people of Great Britain for their support in the fight for emancipation in the U.S. He explained a bit of what was happening in the U.S. regarding the war, and focused on the issue of slavery and the strides being made by the anti-slavery movements there.

Description of file(s): PDF 14 page, 4,006 word document (text and images)

Title: Lewis Hayden

Speaker or author: Hayden, Lewis, 1815-1889

Newspaper or publication: Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Lengthy speech regarding the status of freed African Americans within the order of Freemasonry. The speaker stressed concern over growing racial prejudice within the order. He was also concerned that President Andrew Johnson was not doing anything to combat the increasing racial prejudice within the U.S. The speaker paid special attention to the wording of the Freemason doctrine regarding membership. He also gave a brief history of the order, including its goals, moral obligations and social commitment. This speech contains valuable information regarding the influence of Freemasonry in the founding of the U. S.

Description of file(s): PDF 56 page, 17,480 word document (text and images)

Title: Nathaniel Paul

Speaker or author: Paul, Nathaniel, 1792 or 3-1839

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech regarding the influence of Christianity and British slave laws in the abolition of U.S. slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,034 word document (text and images)

Title: Nathaniel Paul

Speaker or author: Paul, Nathaniel, 1792 or 3-1839

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College

Speech given in London's Exeter Hall against the colonization of Africa proposed by the American Colonization Society.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 2,810 word document (images and text)

Title: Peter Vogelsang

Speaker or author: Vogelsang, Peter, Lieutenant

Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)

Speech describing how the United States benefits from the citizenship status of free African Americans.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 1,997 word document (text and images)

Title: Peter Williams

Speaker or author: Williams, Peter, 1780?-1840

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- New York Public Library -- Schomburg Collection

Speech given for the benefit of the "coloured community of Wilberforce" in Upper Canada. Speech addresses efforts of the Colonization Society to relocate free people of color to Africa and Hayti. (Speech 00793 is duplicate of this speech)

Description of file(s): PDF 13 page, 3,488 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: "Rattlesnakes" -- Slavery Influence.

Title: Provincial Freeman - May 16, 1857

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer discusses the effects of slavery on society that reach from the acceptance of the misery on the auction block, to the advertisements that continue to appear in big city American newspapers.

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

Title: Robert Gordon

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)

Title: Sarah Parker Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Sarah Parker, 1826-1887?

Newspaper or publication: Manchester Weekly Times

Impassioned speech delivered before an English audience. The speaker recounted examples of the horrors and moral degradation of slavery. She noted that the economics of cotton ruled the mind and morals of slaveholders. She stressed that slavery had not only denied freedom to millions of human beings, but had created a population of poor white people who could not earn a livable wage due to its existence.

Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,862 word document (text and images)

Title: Sarah Parker Remond

Speaker or author: Remond, Sarah Parker, 1826-1887?

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Advocate

Impassioned speech describing the horrors of slavery. The speaker stressed that the economics of the cotton industry was continuing the institution of slavery. She also emphasized the influence of the Church in continuing slavery by condoning it.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,158 word document (text and images)

Title: Shadrach Howard

Speaker or author: Howard, Shadrach

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal [supplement]

Lengthy speech denouncing slavery and praising the work of abolitionists. The speaker offered the emancipation of the British West Indies as an example of the successful work of various abolitionists.

Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 3,761 word document (text and images)

Title: Stephen H. Gloucester

Speaker or author: Gloucester, Stephen H.

Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Reporter

Speech given in response to a resolution put forth for the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society to work peacefully towards the abolition of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 635 word document (text and images)

Subtitle: First of August Celebration.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - July 30, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer tells his readers of upcoming events that are being offered to celebrate the August 1st anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. He reminds them too that August 24th is the birthdate of William Wilberforce and worthy of celebration as well.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: William J. Watkins

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Lengthy speech given during the anniversary celebration of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker emphasized the irony of a country founded on freedom that realized its power and wealth through the institution of slavery. He hoped that Great Britain's actions would inspire America to follow and emancipate its slaves. He noted various influencial men who were working to realize this goal.

Description of file(s): PDF 42 page, 10,575 word document (text and images)

Title: William J. Wilson, Jr.

Speaker or author: Wilson, William, Jr.

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

Speech given to commemorate the August 1st anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker argued that the rationality used to end slavery in the British West Indies could be used in the U.S. as well. The fears of U.S. citizens of what may happen if the slaves are freed are proven unfounded by the history of events in the West Indies.

Description of file(s): PDF

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