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Title: Alfred M. Green

Speaker or author: Green, Alfred M..

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- Foner and Walker, Eds. -- Proceedings of the Black State Conventions 1840-1865, (1979) Vol. 1, pp. 139-166

Eloquent, rational, and meaningful speech delivered before the Convention of the Colored People of Pennsylvania expressing a legal argument for civil rights. The speaker asked that African Americans be given their civil rights, be allowed to vote, hold jobs equal to those of the white population, and be given the opportunity to prove themselves worthy citizens of the U.S.

Description of file(s): PDF 1 page, 480 word document (text and image)

Subtitle: The Outbreak in Virginia.

Title: Anglo-African Magazine - November, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)

Detailed account of the raid on Harper's Ferry by John Brown published originally in the Baltimore American and New York Herald. Included is an interview with John Brown shortly after his capture, and a brief account of his statements before the Grand Jury before his trial.

Description of file(s): eight scanned magazine pages (14 columns)

Title: Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

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

Newspaper or publication: National Anti-Slavery Standard

Eloquent speech regarding the ongoing issue of free versus slave state designation as new states enter the Union. The speaker told of her experience as witness to the continued degradation suffered by slaves.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,277 word document (text and images)

Title: James M. Williams

Speaker or author: Williams, James M., Rev.

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

Eulogy sermon for John Brown during a gathering on the anniversary of his execution the previous year.

Description of file(s): PDF 2 page, 341 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Impassioned and emotional speech given the day of John Brown's death. The speaker praised John Brown and compared the trails and convictions of his life with those of Jesus and John the Baptist. The speaker saw John Brown's death as more a crucifixion than an execution. This event marked a turning point in the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue of slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 10 page, 2,873 word document (text and images)

Title: John Sella Martin

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

Newspaper or publication: Presscopy -- John Rylands Library -- Manchester, England

Speech given on the anniversary of the execution of John Brown. The speaker related his experience with John Brown, and praised him as a martyr for the abolition of slavery. He also praised other abolitionists and stressed that the incident at Harper's Ferry was the spark that fueled the current fight to completely end slavery.

Description of file(s): PDF 7 page, 2,698 word document (text and images)

Title: Robert Morris

Speaker or author: Morris, Robert, 1823-1882

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech given after presentation of a portrait of John T. Hilton was given to the Masonic Lodge. The speaker stressed that while this was "...our first effort to transmit to posterity a portrait of any of our public men...", he regretted that portraits of other African American heroes had not been included in this effort.

Description of file(s): PDF 4 page, 1,095 word document (text and images)

Title: Sarah Parker Remond

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

Newspaper or publication: Frederick Douglass' Paper

Speech delivered before an English audience in which the speaker stressed the irony of slavery in the U.S., a country founded on freedom. She explained the details regarding the Dred Scott decision and the goals of the Fugitive Slave Law.

Description of file(s): PDF 5 page, 1,128 word document (text and images)

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - April 27, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer tells his readers that the time has come for action, not passive acceptance. "Five hundred black men ... can do more to destroy slavery than five-thousand Regulars."

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: Seeing Double.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - April 6, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer points out the impact that John Brown's actions at Harper's Ferry has had on the country. As the U. S. divides geographically on the issue of slavery, the focus on the humanity of the slave becomes more pronounced.

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

Subtitle: John Brown, The Martyr.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - December 10, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer describes the unsettled state of the country after the incident at Harper's Ferry and the execution of John Brown. He praises John Brown's life and heroic death.

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

Subtitle: The Last of the Executions.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - December 24, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

Commentary on the last of the executions of John Brown's associates that took place on December 16. The writer describes these executions as barbarous acts committed by the state of Virginia.

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

Subtitle: Later From Hayti.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - February 18, 1860

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer briefly discusses the way Haitian newspapers are reporting the actions and subsequent execution of John Brown.

Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column

Subtitle: The "Irrepressible Conflict."

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 14, 1860

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer discusses the political life of William H. Seward. He includes with this commentary on how the actions of John Brown at Harper's Ferry were affecting the political situation in the country.

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

Subtitle: Doings in Virginia.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 7, 1860

Speaker or author: editor

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

John Brown's actions at Harper's Ferry have stirred a Legislative Committee in Virginia to generate an "elaborate report" that creates what the writer believes is a general antagonistic political atmosphere between the North and the South.

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

Subtitle: Citizens of Kentucky Expelled.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - January 7, 1860

Speaker or author: editor

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

Brief commentary on a recent event in Kentucky in which 36 people were asked to leave the state because of their abolitionists' views.

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

Subtitle: Colored Pictures of Genius.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - March 3, 1860

Speaker or author: editor

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

[parts missing] The writer discusses how African Americans are portrayed in news articles and magazines. He offers a strong critique of publications like the "Sunday Times." He emphasizes the lackluster reporting of the great performances of actors like Rachel and Ira Aldridge.

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

Subtitle: To Wait is to Work.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - May 11, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer tells his readers that "war is a swift educator." He agrees with Captain John Brown, Jr. who tells his followers that the hardest thing to learn for those who yearn for freedom is to wait.

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

Subtitle: Wise Silence -- Just Speech.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - May 4, 1861

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer comments on the American Anti-Slavery Society's decision to postpone their annual meeting.

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

Subtitle: What a Breeze!

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - November 12, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer describes the fearful atmosphere of the country following the actions of John Brown and during the days of his trial.

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

Subtitle: Trimming the Theological Sails.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - November 26, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer discusses the effects of John Brown's actions on the politics of slavery. He tells his readers that this was a revolutionary act and that it has opened the way to reform.

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

Subtitle: The Emeute at Harper's Ferry.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African - October 22, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer lays out the events that took place at Harper's Ferry on October 17th. He tells his readers that this story came to him from a reliable source, and he wants them to know the truth of what transpired that day.

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

Subtitle: Stopping The Leaks.

Title: Weekly Anglo-African- November 12, 1859

Speaker or author: editor

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

The writer describes the unsettled political atmosphere of the country after John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry.

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

Title: William Cooper Nell

Speaker or author: Nell, William C. (William Cooper), 1816-1874.

Newspaper or publication: Liberator

Speech expressing praise for a recent speech given before Congress by Charles Sumner regarding equal school rights for African Americans. The speaker also praised the life and recent death of Reverend Theodore Parker. He emphasized some of Reverend Parker's accomplishments.

Description of file(s): PDF 3 page, 666 word document (text and images)

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