2 March 1904

Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908

Autograph note signed

Title: to Walter Harris

Replies to Harris letter, written and signed 1 March 1904, inquiring if Cleveland "entertained a negro, C.H.J. Taylor, of Kansas, at dinner" at the White House during his presidency. He heard the information in a speech given on the floor of the House of Representatives by Charles F. Scott. The reply, in which Cleveland asserts that "Of course the statement is absolutely false," is written on Harris's original letter. Harris was a reporter at the Senate press gallery.

GLC08931

14 March 1857

Wilson, Henry, 1812-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Theodore Parker

Senator Wilson thanks Reverend Parker for Parker's recent criticism of Wilson's speech on the topic of slavery and states' rights. Defends himself, stating "I deny the right of any state or nation to hold men in slavery, but I maintain the right of every state or nation to settle that question. I do not believe I have any right by legal action to settle that question for every state in the Union any more that I have to settle it for the people of any other nation..." Believes states' rights must be maintained to preserve United States' citizens status as a free people. Discusses his…

GLC08889

circa 1800

Broadside

Title: New York Slavery

"A Statement, Shewing the Aggregate Number of Persons in each of the Wards of the city of New York, and in each of the Counties in this State, including, however, no more than three-fifths of the whole number of slaves."

GLC08893

1793

Pamphlet

Title: The Constitution of the New-Jersey Society, for the Promoting of Abolition of Slavery...

GLC08896

1795

Pamphlet

Title: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Second Convention of Delegates from the Abolition Societies Established in Different Parts of the United States, Assembled in Philadelphia ...

GLC08897

10 April 1864

Hurlbut, Stephen A., 1815-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James B. McPherson

Major General Hurlbut writes to Major General McPherson, commander of the Department of the Tennessee, about military strategy and organization. Counsels against consolidating "Memphis & Vicksburgh into the 'District of the Miss. River." Outlines his concerns, maintaining that even though it will affect his command, his sole concern is "the progress of our arms." Suggests that "the colored troops in this command should be fully under the control of the commanding General and that the system by which Brig Genl Thomas is authorized to issue independent orders direct to them without…

GLC08901

19 September 1859

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Printed document

Title: Douglas an Enemy to the North.

Title continues: Reasons Why the North Should Oppose Judge Douglas. Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois. Delivered at Cincinnati, September 19, 1859. Paraphrases and summarizes a speech delivered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lincoln says Douglas is "the man of the North, pre-eminently the man, who moulded the public sentiment of his section to the uses of the South...As an illustration of the vast power with which Douglas was wielding the public sentiment of the North to suit the South, let it be remembered that five years ago there was not a man on the continent who had said that the…

GLC08933

1821-1855

Hale, Aurelia, 1798-?

Header Record

Title: Aurelia Hale letters to her sister Sarah, and brother Horatio [Decimalized .01- .52]

52 letters covering New England transplant Aurelia Hale's travels in the South, including her views on slavery. Born in Connecticut, Aurelia moved to Savannah, Georgia in 1821, and later migrated to Washington County, Georgia, and then to Alabama. She wrote sporadic letters to her sister Sarah and her brother, Horatio. She was not disturbed by slavery, remarking on 11 June 1821, that the people of Georgia "differ in every respect from the Northerners; are much more agreeable, polite, attentive, and friendly...When we entered Savannah we were astonished at the number of blacks...We find it no…

GLC08934

October 1859

Douglas, Stephen Arnold, 1813-1861

Pamphlet

Title: Popular Sovereignty in the Territories: Judge Douglas in Reply to Judge Black

Responds at length to the criticisms of his position on popular sovereignty by Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black. Emphasizes that he would "never vote for a slave code in the Territories by Congress." First edition with original free franked envelope Douglas used to send it to Samuel Arnold of Haddam, Connecticut.

GLC08940

1897

Hammond, B.F., fl. 1897

Print

Title: Afro-American Monument

Oil process chromo-lithographic poster. A picture of an angel putting her hand on the head of a slave, surrounded by nine vignettes depicting scenes from slavery to results of emancipation. Includes pictures of Booker T. Washington and Frederick Douglass, the death of Crispus Attucks, the initial arrival of African slaves in 1619, and Abraham Lincoln "breaking the chain of bondage," among other scenes. There is also related statistical information.

GLC08941

20 April 1865

Johnson, Andrew, 1808-1875

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Endorsement of a runaway slave to return to Tennessee to search for his family]

President Johnson, five days after taking office endorses the petition of Jermain Westley Loguen, an escaped slave and Underground Railroad conductor, to return to Tennessee to search for family members. Written on the leaf of a 31 March 1865 autograph letter signed in which Samuel May made the request of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. May's letter is also signed by C.B. Sedgewick, Sherman B. Canfield, Reverend George Whipple, and Lewis Tappan. Johnson's endorsement reads: "the within named Rev J. W. Loguen (col'd) of New York is recommended to the favorable consideration of the Civil…

GLC08942

20 April 1818

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Printed document

Title: [Act in addition to another act prohibiting the importation of slaves]

Passed by Congress and approved by the President. Outlines the ban on importing slaves, the forfeiture of ships built for such a purpose, and the penalties for involvement in the slave trade. The act being added to prohibited the importation of slaves as of 1 January 1808. The names of Henry Clay (Speaker of the House), John Gaillard (President of the Senate, pro tempore) and President James Monroe are printed at the end. The date is the day Monroe approved the act.

GLC08946

23 June 1834

Williams, Henry, fl. 1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Arthur Waring

An appeal by Williams, on behalf of "the Colourd Citizens of N.Y.," to "the good Colourd Citizens of Washington" for help "in the great and noble under taking to save our paper the Liberator." Explains that the paper is $1,000 in debt, which must be "raised by Coloured Citizens of the U.S. by the middle of July." Implores them to contribute. In a postscript, he asks for a response in a week. Also asks that the matter be kept quiet, because if the American Colonization Society finds out, they will rejoice and "on the 4 day of July blow a trumpet and thunder it from one end of the union to…

GLC08947

17 July 1872

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: U. S. Grant and the colored people

Urging black voters to re-elect President Grant. Subtitled "His wise, just practical, and effective friendship thoroughly vindicated by incontestable facts in his record from 1862-1872." Addressed "To the Colored People of the United States." Defends Grant as a friend of African Americans and cataloges the ways in which he has helped the black race. Two months prior to this letter Douglass declined Victoria Woodhull's offer to run as her Vice-President on the Equal Rights Party ticket.

GLC08950

2 October 1858

Bailey, Gamaliel, 1807-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Request for help in keeping the Abolitionist newspaper National Era in business. Competition has greatly reduced the papers circulation, and it is in danger of folding. Will not take charity or aid from Congress, so only greater circulation can save the paper. Asks the recipient, addressed simply as "My dear sir" to support the paper by renewing their subscription and encouraging others to subscribe. Gives a history of the newspaper and explain why it should be saved. The letter appears to be intended for all the subscribers of the newspaper. It is possible that copies were printed or…

GLC08956

10 June 1862

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron M. Powell

Discusses an abolitionist meeting he attended, where a memorial was drafted calling on President Lincoln to immediately abolish slavery. Now in New York, an "immense, dirty, bustling, turbulent city." Says of Theodore Tilton, one of his companions at the meeting "should his life be spared, he is destined to be 'a burning and a shining light' in the cause of humanity and progress."

GLC08958

January 18, 1861

Booth, William A., fl. 1861

Printed document

Title: Memorial to Congress, Adopted at a Meeting of Citizens at the Rooms of the Chamber of Commerce

Signed in print by William A. Booth as committee chair and twenty seven other New Yorkers. The memorial, printed a few months before the outbreak of the Civil War, was made in an effort to maintain peace. It appointed a committee that met on 26 January 1861 to make recommendations for "compromise" with the rebel states. That committee called for capitulation to the South on the issue of slavery. They proposed amendments to the Constitution limiting federal power over slavery and its extension into territories below the line of the Missouri Compromise. Also asserts that the Fugitive Slave…

GLC08932

4 January 1868

Higginson, Thomas W., 1823-1911

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wendell P. Garrison

Writes to Garrison, the son of William Lloyd Garrison, about the "Slave Songs" Garrison sent him: "I certainly ought to have acknowledged the receipt of the Slave Songs...I think that you and your wife (who was the pioneer) have great reason to be satisfied...I was very sorry, though, not to see the works militant music."

GLC08937

17 September 1807

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Manuscript document

Title: [Slavery laws of the Indiana Territory]

Approved by Harrison and also signed by Jesse B. Thomas as Speaker of the House and B. Chambers as President of the Council (this is a copy). Title continues: "Laws of the Indiana Territory Comprising those Acts formerly in force and as Revised by Moses John Rice Jones and John Johnson and passed after amendments by the Legislature and the Original Acts passed at the first Session of the Second General Assembly of the said Territory ." Section labeled Chapter LXIV, "An Act Concerning the introduction of Negroes and Mullattoes into the Territory," which permits bringing slaves into…

GLC08939

22 May 1885

Purvis, Robert, 1810-1898

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to Wendell P. Garrison

Writing to the son of William Lloyd Garrison, Purvis, an abolitionist and civil rights leader, answers several queries about the birth dates and places, deaths, and locations of important events among old guard abolitionists. He mentions James McCrummell, James Cassey, Joseph Sharpless, Mary Sharpless, and Frederick Hinton. Among the information he provides is his recollection that the "Declaration of Sentiments &c" was written at McCrummell's house. Also notes that he is glad to hear that Wendell has published the first volume of his father's biography.

GLC08943

1867-1868

Header Record

Title: [Two letters by Harrison Stearns, a former slave, to the wife of his former master] [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC08945

16 November 1867

Stearns, Harrison, fl. 1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Jane Ferris Stearns

In response to a letter from Mary, the wife of his former master, William F. Stearns, Harrison, a freed slave, offers condolence for William's death and inquires about a gift of land William promised him. Writes in part: "You said something bout conveying my lots to me. I had just write to mass Wiliam a little before his death...he promest to convey to me as soon as he could be satisfied that the laws of Miss. would allow colored people to hold land. Colored people has the same right to hold land as the white people."

GLC08945.01

January 14, 1868

Stearns, Harrison, fl. 1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Jane Ferris Stearns

Harrison, a freed slave, writes to Mary, the wife of his former master, William F. Stearns, to inform her that he received the deed for the gift of land William promised him (see GLC08945.01) and has had it recorded. Thanks her and indicates he will write to her in New York, where she is moving.

GLC08945.02

1893

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph note signed

Title: [Resignation as the Director and President of the Freedom Manufacturing Company]

Addressed to the companies Board of Directors. Accompanied by an (unrelated) engraving of Douglass by Augustus Robin of New York (see GLC08948.02).

GLC08948.01

1853

Griffiths, Julia, fl. 1895

Book

Title: Autographs for freedom

An anthology of signed articles, poems, etc., by men and women prominent in the anti-slavery movement. Includes Frederick Douglass's "The Heroic Slave." The signatures are in facsimile. Published by John P. Jewett and Company for the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society as a fund raiser. Edited by Griffiths, who signed (in print) in the preface: "On behalf of 'The Rochester Ladies' Anti-Slavery Society,' Julia Griffiths, Secretary."

GLC08949