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Title: Francis Ellen Watkins Harper

Speaker or author: Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins, 1825-1911.

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

Brief overview of speech expressing concerns over the direction of national policy after the Civil War and during Reconstruction.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 203 word document (text and image)

Title: George Thomas Downing

Speaker or author: Downing, George T. (George Thomas), 1819-1903

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker expressed suspicion at the request of the African Civilization Society for help with those in need in Liberia. He believed this was a backhanded way for the colonization society to get funds.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 311 word document (text and image)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Overview of speech delivered in celebration of the emancipation of Maryland. The speaker encouraged his audience to speak well of Union soldiers and President Lincoln.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 642 word document (text and images)

Title: Henry Highland Garnet

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker responded to remarks criticizing the African Civilization Society as being established only as a money making scheme. The speaker stressed that it was a very valuable means to educate African American children and to improve the race in general.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 394 word document (text and image)

Title: John G. Wilson

Speaker or author: Wilson, John G.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Patriotic speech regarding the bravery and heroism of black Union soldiers. The speaker noted that while he realized the Emancipation Proclamation was of military necessity, he praised Abraham Lincoln for seeing the right action in it. He felt as if it was well earned by the blood and courage of those who had fought and died for freedom.

Description of file(s): PDF 11 page, 2,339 word document (text and images)

Title: John Mercer Langston

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Brief overview of a speech made at the National Convention of Colored Men held in Syracuse, New York. The speaker emphasized that all races were made slaves if the system of oligarchy were allowed to continue.

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

Title: John Parker

Speaker or author: Parker, John, fl. 1861-1864

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Brief overview of speech relating one man's experience as a soldier and fugitive slave during the Civil War.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 136 word document (text and image)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

The speaker noted that prejudice was related more to an association of race with slavery than to slavery itself. While slavery had included all races in its long history, it was the particular racial aspect of slavery in the U. S. that distinguished it and set it on the road to its doom. The speaker also addressed the causes for the abolition of slavery in England and the influence of the press in this action.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 927 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

The speaker put forward his assessment of how the situation in the U. S. is currently viewed in England. He noted that opinion differs by class and political affiliation with some siding with the Union and some with the Confederacy. He gave examples and detailed his reasoning when reaching these conclusions.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 628 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sweat Rock

Speaker or author: Rock, John S. (John Sweat), 1825-1866

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

The speaker made a plea for equal rights now that the slaves had been freed. He noted the heroism and patriotism displayed by black soldiers and emphasized the sacrifices they had made for liberty, freedom, and justice. All that they asked for at this point was to be granted the civil rights that every Union soldier had fought and died for.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 892 word document (text and images)

Title: Octavius V. Catto

Speaker or author: Catto, Octavius V.

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

Lengthy speech on the importance of education and its effects on the political and moral aspects of society. The speaker stressed the historical progress of education in Europe and the U.S. He also emphasized the positive influence the Society of Friends has had on its availability to all U.S. citizens.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 3,073 word document (text and images)

Title: Paschal Beverly Randolph

Speaker or author: Randolph, Paschal Beverly, 1825-1874

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Athenaeum -- Pamphlet Collection

Impassioned speech urging patience, persistence, and patriotism as the Civil War continued. The speaker emphasized to his audience that liberty and justice would prevail.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 886 word document (text and images)

Title: Robert Purvis

Speaker or author: Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

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

The speaker rejoiced in the recent emancipation of the slaves but stressed that the battle for improving the condition of the formerly enslaved and ending the prevelent prejudice would offer the Abolitionists continued work.

Description of file(s): PDF 6 page, 2,058 word document (text and images)

Title: Thomas H. Street

Speaker or author: Street, Thomas H.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Speech delivered during a celebration of the first anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The speaker traced the history of slavery from its ancient beginning to the progress made since emancipation. He stressed that it takes both the white and black races of American people working together to make the country great. He encouraged all African Americans to continue to improve themselves to meet the social challenges that lay ahead.

Description of file(s): PDF 12 page, 2,711 word document (text and images)

Title: W. J. O. Bryant

Speaker or author: Bryant, W. J. O.

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

The speaker encouraged continued efforts in the work towards complete abolition. He emphasized that while Abraham Lincoln's proclamation given the year before had set more than 4 million slaves free, that some states were excluded and work needs to continue to abolish slavery completely.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 920 word document (text and images)

Title: William A. Davis

Speaker or author: Davis, William A., fl. 1862-1864

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker emphasized that while it seemed as if slavery was coming to an end, the work for civil rights for African Americans was just beginning. (Includes MP3 audio file)

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 282 word document

Title: William Henry Hall

Speaker or author: Hall, W. H. (William Henry), fl. 1863-1864

Newspaper or publication: Pacific Appeal

Eloquent speech praising Abraham Lincoln for emancipating the slaves. The speaker stressed that though the history of the U. S. had been fraught with an irrational oppression regarding human freedom, the government is now finally acting reasonably and rationally.

Description of file(s): PDF 17 page, 3,748 word document (text and images)

Title: William Howard Day

Speaker or author: Day, William Howard, d. 1900

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

The speaker stressed his belief that the government under the leadership of Abraham Lincoln had failed to provide for the emancipation of the slaves as they had all believed it would. He noted the countries that had freed their slaves over the past decades, and stressed the inhumanity that seemed to rule a country that refused to acknowledge the evil in this continued system.

Description of file(s): PDF 8 page, 2,389 word document (text and images)

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker urged caution in celebrating the end of slavery until they were sure it was really over. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

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

Title: William Wells Brown

Speaker or author: Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

The speaker called for the continued efforts toward complete abolition of slavery. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been delivered, some states were exempt. Kidnapping and the sale of former slaves were taking place in these states. (Includes MP3 audio file.)

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 233 word document (text and image)

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