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Subtitle: Wants of the Church.--Education of Children.

Title: Christian Recorder - March 19, 1855

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Christian Recorder (1852 - 1856)

The writer discusses the benefits of education. Education, he believes, offers not just a way of learning a trade and contributing to society, but a way of knowing and living a truly moral life.

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

Subtitle: Religion and Politics.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 16, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer expresses his view that a good Christian makes a good politician. He emphasizes the authority of the Church in the average person's life. He notes that a man's character should be judged on his actions, not just on his words.

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

Subtitle: What are we Doing?

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 2, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer encourages his readers to be patient regarding the inevitable end of slavery. But patience is not a matter of simply waiting for something to happen. It is instead a way of looking for opportunities towards action. He assures them that freedom that is fought for is sweeter than freedom that is "bestowed upon us."

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

Subtitle: Union Literary Association.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 2, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer reviews a debate presented by the Union Literary Association.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Southern Methodists on Dancing.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 2, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer tells his readers that while dancing and gambling were condemned at a recent Methodist-Protestant convention, no mention was made of slavery. Silence on this subject gave an unspoken approval of it by the Church.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Know Nothingism and Secret Oaths.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer discusses the political views of a few members of Congress.

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

Subtitle: Suffrage of Colored Men!

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer emphasizes the discrepancies in the voting rights of men based on their race. He stresses the injustice of the restrictions and rules that an African American man most follow in order to vote in the states that allow him to.

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

Subtitle: The Cuban Question.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer describes the current status of the negotiations with Spain as the U.S. attempts to obtain Cuba. The issue of slavery is playing a major role in this.

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

Subtitle: Sentence of Booth, and Rycraft--Imprisonment--their liberation on a Writ of Habeas Corpus!

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer discusses the case of Joshua Glover, a fugitve slave who sought asylum in Wisconsin. A band of men rescued him after he was caught and jailed. The two men who aided Glover and were instrumental in his escape were imprisoned and fined.

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

Subtitle: Are we ready for the Conflict?

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer emphasizes that slavery is not just an African American problem, but a problem for humanity. If freedom is valued, it is worth fighting for. He notes the history of slavery and the freedom that followed and stresses that this freedom was not won without a fight. He shares a statement made to him by a white abolitionist who said, "Your people, sir, will never be done paying us for our efforts in your behalf." This sentiment, he tells his readers, is reason enough for African Americans to keep fighting on their own behalf.

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

Subtitle: Wm. H. Seward Re-Elected.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - February 9, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer tells his readers that William H. Seward has been elected to the Senate. He includes other election results.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column (partially illegible)

Subtitle: Senator Seward.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - January 26, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer presents his views on the political life of Senator Seward. Although he is "much hated" by other politicians and maybe not the best choice to represent African Americans in Congress, he offers the strongest hope for the abolition of slavery at that point.

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

Subtitle: Notes by the Way.

Title: Frederick Douglass' Paper - May 11, 1855

Speaker or author: Watkins, William J.

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper (1851 - 18??)

The writer notes that in his travels through New York state on a speaking tour, he is finding many people who are unaware of the efforts being made to end slavery.

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

Subtitle: Politics.

Title: Provincial Freeman - 1858

Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

[Copyright permission granted August 2007.] The writer tells her readers that the newspaper usually remains independent in its political reporting, but that there's a vast difference between being independent and being neutral. She expresses a brief opinion of the current political atmosphere in the U.S.

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

Subtitle: Dumas Literary Society.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 12, 1856

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer gives a brief overview of an unruly meeting he attended of the Dumas Literary Society.

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

Subtitle: The Buxton Settlement.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 12, 1856

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer offers a brief overview of the settlement of Buxton and the 140 families living there.

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

Subtitle: Negro Songs.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 14, 1855

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The editor comments on the debate about whether or not to allow children in Canadian public schools to sing what are considered "Negro Songs."

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Begging for Fugitives in Canada.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 14, 1855

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer laments the continued perception among the Canadian public that people of African descent are unable to care for themselves. The automatic assumption that these people must be clothed, fed, and sheltered is degrading to the race.

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

Subtitle: A Word About, and to Emigrationists.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer shares a portion of a published opinion by John Mitchell on the idea of immigration for people of African descent currently living in Canada and the U.S.

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

Subtitle: The Rev. Dr. Duff.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer gives an overview of Reverend Duff's lecture regarding his missionary work in India.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Rev. Wm. King.--The Buxton Settlement.

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 15, 1854

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer describes the Elgin Settlement established by Reverend William King. This Christian community offers a way for people of African descent to live together in peace, harmony and prosperity.

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

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 18, 1857

Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer tells her readers that recently C. C. Foote of the Refugees Home Society has taken action to obtain property from two of the home's tenants.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 18, 1857

Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The writer responds briefly to a letter the newspaper received from the Refugees Home. The letter indicates the humiliating treatment in the name of charity that C. C. Foote's is providing there. Fugitives arriving in Canada are looking for freedom and equality, not pity and handouts.

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

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 18, 1857

Speaker or author: Cary, Mary Ann Shadd, 1823-1893

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

From a source at the Refugee Home, the writer learns of a legal battle to obtain land for the Home from a deceased settler.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Title: Provincial Freeman - April 19, 1856

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Provincial Freeman (1853 - 1859)

The editor gives a brief announcement of the arrival of Miss Amelia Freeman, an artist who is visiting Chatham.

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

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