Speaker or author: Francis, Abner H.
Newspaper or publication: North Star
Eulogy for John Quincy Adams stressing the high points and low points of his career. The speaker compared the state of the country to the Roman Empire in its last days.
Description of file(s): PDF 19 page, 4,143 word document (text and images)
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Title: Anglo-African - August 26, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer tells his readers that while the white portion of the population is prejudiced against the black portion, the black portion feels no prejudice against the white. He emphasizes that what African Americans feel towards their white counterparts is actually a lack of trust and not prejudice.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Anglo-African - November 11, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer offers his views regarding the current governmental ideas on Reconstruction after the Civil War. He tells his readers that he speaks for all African Americans in saying that the country should work towards ensuring freedom for all and providing all American people with the rights of citizenship regardless of color.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Anglo-African - October 7, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer expresses the fears that permeate African American communities that the white slaveholders will demand a return to the system of slavery, and be granted this by the government. The majority of African Americans, however, are determined to resist and not allow this to happen without a fight.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns) (blank sections throughout)
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Title: Anglo-African - September 3, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer responds to a note published in another newspaper saying that free African Americans will not be content to rank themselves among those newly freed slaves who that author believes do not yet have the "rudiments of civilization."
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Anglo-African - September 9, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African (1863 - 1865)
The writer responds to a lengthy article published in the Tribune newspaper containing a discussion of the physical, intellectual, and emotional condition of African Americans. The writer expresses his frustration with the continuous fascination white citizens seem to have with categorizing and explaining African American behavior now that the slaves are free.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Anglo-African Magazine - January, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer stresses the strength and determination of African Americans as they have endured injustices over the history of African slavery and prejudice. He mentions several anecdotal stories to prove his point, and assures his readers that African Americans will not only prevail but continue to outnumber the white population.
Description of file(s): three scanned magazine pages (7 columns)
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Title: Anglo-African Magazine - September, 1859
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Anglo-African Magazine (1859 - 1860)
The writer expresses the fears most African Americans hold now: that Congress will pass laws that will resume the slave trade in the U.S.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, magazine page
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Title: Black Republican - April 15, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The editor discusses the right of suffrage and a recent government petition regarding this signed by five thousand African Americans.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Black Republican - April 22, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Black Republican (1865)
The writer discusses two candidates who are running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor in Rhode Island, a state that offers African Americans the right to vote.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - April 25, 1840
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer expresses his opinion regarding the work of abolitionists. He is disappointed, however, to learn that some prominent African American men are actually opposed to the abolition movement saying that it does more harm than good.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - May 18, 1839
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
Brief remarks regarding the work of Fanny Wright.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - October 2, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer offers his views on the Liberty Party and its current place in politics. He suggests to his readers that the Liberty Party is worth joining.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - October 30, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor comments on an amendment to the state constitution of Rhode Island regarding free suffrage rights to male citizens that would only be approved if the word "white" was added, thereby instantly disfranchising all African American men in that state.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Colored American - September 18, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The writer offers commentary on the recent three month extended session of Congress. He tells his readers that while strides are being made in the struggle for equal rights, there are growing tensions between northern and southern alliances in Congress.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Colored American - September 25, 1841
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Colored American (1837 - 1842)
The editor comments on an article regarding the recent extra session in Congress published in the New York Sun.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Title: Elevator - April 14, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer shares an article from the Christian Advocate which in turn includes an article from the Oregon Advocate regarding equal rights to free African Americans. These two Christian newspapers discuss issues like Colonization, which was long ago abandoned as a solution to the issues of African American equality and racial degradation.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
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Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The editor tells his readers that the Elevator newspaper is published without a focus on race or caste, but on quality and virtue. He hopes that it will be read and appreciated by all Americans regardless of race.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column
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Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer comments on an article published in another newspaper regarding voting rights for African Americans in California. Although the other newspaper warns against the dire consequences of equal rights, the editor points to the success of this action in other states.
Description of file(s): two scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
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Title: Elevator - August 4, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer offers various reasons why a convention is in order for African Americans. The questions of suffrage, education, and restricting laws offer reason enough, but a convention is also a way of uniting people in a common cause.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - December 1, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer comments on restrictions in place in each of the six states that allow African Americans to vote. All other U.S. states forbid African American voting.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - December 22, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
While there was slavery in the ancient world, the writer points that the U.S. is the only country that added racial prejudice to the experience. The writer gives a historic overview of the system of slavery and its continued influence on current U.S. society.
Description of file(s): three scanned, two columned, newspaper pages
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Title: Elevator - July 21, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The editor lists the names of African American butchers who were not afraid to participate in the July 4th parade even though there was opposition to their presence from other groups. He includes brief advertising for establishments that also participated.
Description of file(s): one scanned, two columned, newspaper page
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Title: Elevator - July 28, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer accuses several California and Nevada newspapers of traitorous reporting in their views regarding the rights of African Americans.
Description of file(s): two scanned newspaper pages (three columns)
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Title: Elevator - July 7, 1865
Speaker or author: editor
Newspaper or publication: Elevator (1865 - 18??)
The writer tells his readers that the people of Connecticut are about to vote on an amendment to that state's Constitution which will allow African American's to vote there.
Description of file(s): one scanned newspaper column