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)
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Speaker or author: Stanley, Benjamin, fl. 1850
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. The speaker suggested armed resistance to those who would attempt to rob them of their freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 458 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Williamson, Charles, fl. 1852
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1980) Vol. 2, pp. 42-49
Speech expressing an encouragement for free black citizens to colonize Africa. The speaker said he had traveled to various countries and no other country offered a better opportunity for freed slaves than Africa.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 326 word document (text and image)
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Speaker or author: L.
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer responds to an article from the New Era newspaper describing the poor condition of fugitive slaves living in Canada. The writer emphasizes that contrary to what the article says, living in poverty is preferable to living as a slave.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
Speaker or author: Scott, Edward, fl. 1857
Newspaper or publication: Christian News
Speech relating how southern slave owners use religion to encourage slaves to obey their masters. Religion was used as a means to justify cruelty for the slaveholder. The speaker related his own personal story of his life as a slave and his subsequent escape.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 674 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Scott, Edward, fl. 1857
Newspaper or publication: Printed Copy -- Rhode Island Historical Society -- Newspaper Clipping File
Speech delivered during a celebration on the anniversary of the emancipation of the British West Indies. The speaker disputed the idea that the freed slaves could not care for themselves.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 158 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Williams, H. M., fl. 1852
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper
Brief speech denouncing the goals of the Colonization Society and its push to colonize Liberia with nominally free black citizens.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 144 word document (text and image)
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Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Short anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience with slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 149 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Ward, J. L., fl. 1852
Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper
Brief speech denouncing the Fugitive Slave Bill and encouraging listeners to oppose it.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 188 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Commentary on a speech given to encourage African Americans to immigrate to Africa or Hayti. The commentator believes the speaker made deliberate exaggerations in order to make money off the plight of the slaves.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 566 word document (text and images)
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Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Brief speech in which the speaker advocted the African Civilization Project. He emphasized consideration of this endeavor to gain the "...respect of their enemies."
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 195 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
The speaker gave a brief overview of the Boston Convention including a "controversy" between Henry Highland Garnet and George T. Downing. He said that the convention participants had agreed that they would remain in the U.S., their birth place. He also stressed the importance of cotton in continuing the system of slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 532 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Smith, J. B. (John B.), Rev., fl. 1852-1863
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
The speaker emphasized the desire for equal rights for the newly freed slaves. While he admitted to being surprised by the Emancipation Proclamation, he believed it was God's Will and that justice had finally prevailed. He denounced those who agreed with the Crittenden Compromise, and emphasized that the war was not caused by the abolitionists.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 319 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Brown, John, fl. 1854
Newspaper or publication: Plymouth and Devonport Weekly Journal
Narrative regarding the life of John Brown and his experiences growing up as a slave.
Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,808 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Brown, John, fl. 1854
Newspaper or publication: West Briton
Overview of an anecdotal speech regarding one man's experience and escape from slavery. The speaker found himself without support in England and was telling his story to earn funds to return to Canada.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 595 word document (text and images)
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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)
Speaker or author: Parker, John, fl. 1861-1864
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Brief overview of a speech given by a recently freed slave who served in the Confederate army. He believed the South's greatest ally was the divided opinion of slavery expressed by those in the North.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 207 word document (text and image)
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Speaker or author: Simpson, John W., fl. 1860
Newspaper or publication: Weekly Anglo-African (1859 - 1862)
Brief overview of speech delivered to commemorate the 128th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Banneker and the seventh anniversary of the Banneker Institute.
Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 153 word document (text and image)
Speaker or author: Johnson, Mr., fl. 1837
Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Boston Public Library -- Anti-Slavery Pamphlets -- 5th Annual Report, 1837
First hand account of one man's experience with slavery.
Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 1,410 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Selby, Nicholas, fl. 1847
Newspaper or publication: Anti-Slavery Bugle
Brief sermon regarding the religious efforts being made to help the slaves in their fight for freedom.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 343 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Osborne, Peter, fl. 1832
Newspaper or publication: Liberator
Address delivered on July 5th, the date celebrated to call attention to the "lack of independence" for slaves and as a form of protest to the July 4th celebration.
Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 534 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Simons, Peter Paul, fl. 1839
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Speech stressing the responsibility of parents to encourage "moral elevation" in their children so that the people of color may realize a brighter future. The speaker believes the key to freedom is action based on commitment to a moral cause which is passed down from parent to child.
Description of file(s): PDF 9 page, 2,306 word document (text and images)
Speaker or author: Simons, Peter Paul, fl. 1839
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Rambling speech published under protest with a disclaimer from the newspaper editor regarding the grammar and wording. The speech addresses the role of women in the cause of freedom for the people of color.
Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 904 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)