1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Engraving

Title: The Finding of Moses

Signed by Frederick Douglass.

GLC07821

1787

Clarkson, Thomas, 1760-1846

Book signed

Title: An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species.../by Thomas Clarkson

Copy is signed by John Hancock.

GLC07830

13 July 1889

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Clapp

One letter from Frederick Douglass to Mr. Clapp Dated July 13, 1889. The letter is regarding Douglass's work in Haiti. "The work before me in hayti is not very inviting. Neither the Diplomatic nor the Sanitary conditions are what I should like; but as Daniel Webster once said any man can do all agreeable duty not every man can do a disagreeable duty."

GLC07764

1870s ca.

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Print

Title: Vignette bust portrait of Douglass (Currier and Ives print)

GLC07765

1864-1865 ca.

Photograph

Title: Cartes de visite (most signed) of officers of 20th Colored Infantry

GLC07778

1864-1870

Stauffer, David M., 1845-1913

Header Record

Title: [David Stauffer sketchbooks and papers]

Collection of two volumes belonging to David Stauffer, an ensign on the U.S.S. Alexandria, dated 1864 to 1870. Consists of two sketchbooks and an additional 21 items housed in GLC07713.02. Sketches include naval and architectural sketches, as well as depictions of African Americans, women, sailor, landscapes and boat manouevers.

GLC07713

1953

Marshall, Thurgood, 1908-1993

Book signed

Title: Brown v. Topeka Board of Education [In: "Brief for Appellants...."]

Case printed in "brief for appellants...in Supreme Court of the United States, October Term, 1953."

GLC07726

January 14, 1959

King, Martin Luther Jr., 1929-1968

Typed document

Title: Typewritten Speech, delivered at Yale

One speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. January 14, 1959 before the faculty and students at Yale University. The speech is regarding the future of integration. He provides a brief survey of race relations in the past and discusses the roadblocks in place for the desegregation movement. These blocks include; public officials, the Ku Klux Klan, and "white councils." He also outlines the possible solutions and ways that desegregation is being pushed thorough to spite the opposition.

GLC07706

1892

Kurz & Allison

Print

Title: The Fort Pillow Massacre.

Depicts the April 1864 battle at Fort Pillow, Tennessee, in which witnesses reported that Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest violated the conduct of war by killing unarmed and surrendered soldiers. Underneath the print, text indicates that Union forces were led by Majors William F. Bradford and Lionel F. Booth (who was killed during the battle). Portrays Confederate soldiers killing African American soldiers, women, and children. In the center of the print, Forrest hoists the Confederate flag. For an extensive eyewitness account of the battle, please refer to GLC05080.01.

GLC07727

29 September 1793

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tells Knox not to come within 15-20 miles of Boston without informing him. Does not want Knox to "fall into the hands of the Police of this Town, [if so] you will be conducted in a small boat by two Black men to Rainsford Island, figure to yourself the Secretary of War in the situation with everybody running from him for fear of the Plague." Reports the legislature adjourned yesterday. Obtained a resolve for the suspension on Knox's taxes until the legislature meets in January 1794. Will be absent from Boston for five days as he reviews his division of the militia.

GLC02437.05935

1863

Kimball, Myron H., fl. 1863-1865

Photograph

Title: [Carte-de-visite of emancipated children, Isaac and Rosa]

One carte-de-visite entitled,"Issac & Rosa, Slave Children from New Orleans," dated 1863 printed by Kimball. Imprint on image details that the children were emancipated by George H. Hanks. Image consists of two children holding hands. This item would have been sold to raise funds for the education of freed people.

GLC05111.02.1051

circa 1861-1865

Rosa, Charley & Rebecca

Photograph

Title: Our Protection, Rosa, Charley, Rebecca. Slave Children from New Orleans.

Thin red border on recto. Three young slave children 2 girls and 1 boy wrapped in the Stars and Stripes. Imprint on recto "Our Protection, Rosa, Charley, Rebecca. Slave Children from New Orleans." Photographers imprint on verso: "No. 9. Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1864, by S. Tackaberry, in the Clerk's Office, of the District Court of the United States. for the Southern District of New York. The nett [sic] proceeds from the sale of these Photographs will be devoted to the education of Colored People in the department of the Gulf, now under the commmand of Major…

GLC05111.02.1052

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Union refreshment saloon [in paper case]

Image shows busy street corner with large crowd gathered at Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon in Philadelphia. Imprint on flap of case "With the Compliments of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee. See back of Photograph." Ink inscription on case "1025,000 Meals furnished also quarters for over 50,000 souls. Sam B. Fales" "Saloon as it appeared in 1864 & 1865" "Edwd to Rinsley with the kind regards & best wishes of Sam B. Fales compy secy & genl Financial agent. UVR Saloon--" Imprint on recto "H.C.Phillips, Photographer." Imprint on verso: "Union Volunteer Refreshment…

GLC05111.02.0982

circa 1861-1865

Photograph

Title: Young slave girl seated in white dress with black lace

Graphite inscription on verso "Cora Born Jun 25 1861" "slave girl." Cancelled orange two-cent tax stamp on verso.

GLC05111.02.1047

1775-1776

Aitken, Robert, 1735-1802

Magazine

Title: The Pennsylvania magazine, or, American monthly museum.

Nearly complete run, edited in part by Thomas Paine. Total of 13 issues from January to December 1775 (12 issues plus one supplement), January 1776, February 1776 (incomplete with facsimile cover) and March 1776. Two additional issues for April and May 1776 are supplied in photocopy facsimile. (There is one facsimile copy of February 1776.) The famous poem of slave Phillis Wheatley to George Washington is contained in the April 1776 issue (facsimile). Ex-lib marks of Enoch Pratt Library and Newburyport Library.

GLC06466

1863-1865 ca.

Photograph signed

Title: [Captain R.W. Crockett, of the 81st U.S. Colored Troops]

Signed on mount. Crockett commanded the 81st U.S. Colored Troops, who principally guarded Port Hudson, La. After the 81st USCT was combined with the 88th and 89th to form the 77th USCT.

GLC06378

February 1865

Aveleen, E. J., fl. 1865

Map signed

Title: [Manuscript Civil War map of the Confederate defenses around Sea Island, South Carolina]

Shows defenses between Secessionville and Fort Pringle, and down towards Forts Mahan and Delafield on Folly Island. James Island also appears. Shows the obstacles facing the Union's approach to Charleston, South Carolina in early 1865, including Confederate forts, bridges, encampments, and towns burned in January 1865. Charleston fell on 18 February 1865. This map was to accompany the 32nd U.S. Colored Troops attack on James Island on 10 February 1865 (See GLC06379). Aveleen was a Corporal in the 54th New York Volunteers.

GLC06380

13 April 1852

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Stiles

Thanks him for sending a copy of his work on the political movements in Austria of 1848-1849. Chastises him for not visiting when he was in the area. Warns against the election of Winfield Scott, the Whig party candidate, to the presidency and states that the only way to avoid this is to keep the Democrats united. Scott's election would lead to " ... a triumph of the North over the South. Thus a more dangerous geographical division of parties would be introduced." Remarks on his faith in the democratic candidates to do good instead of evil. Comments on his own role in turning the tide…

GLC06396

circa 23 October 1855

E.C.K. Garvey & Co., fl. 1855

Broadside

Title: Constitution! The people of the Kansas Territory are requested to assemble...

Broadside announcing a public discussion on the proposed Kansas Constitution, on wove paper, with a vignette of the Federal Eagle, "Constitution! The People of the Kansas territory Are requested to assemble at the following times and places, to discuss the merits of the Constitution Framed by the Convention which convened at Topeka on the 23rd day of October, a.d. 1855." Lists 10 towns and proposed speakers. After a bitter struggle, Kansas was admitted to the Union in January 1861. Printed by E. C. K. Garvey & Co.

GLC06409.01

2 June 1911

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Typed letter signed

Title: to C. H. Betts

Responds to criticism from Betts over an article Roosevelt wrote in The Outlook denouncing the New York Court of Appeals for their decision to rule the workmen's compensation act unconstitutional. States that their conduct was, " ... a most flagrant and wanton abuse of a great power." Conveys his views on how the Court should be run, "My plea is for rational growth; my plea is that the court act with ordinary statesmanship, ordinary regard for the Constitution, as a living aid to growth, not as a straight jacket; ordinary regard for the laws, the rights of humanity, and the growth of…

GLC06422

1862

Anthony, Edward, 1819-1888

Photograph

Title: Young Africa, or the Bone of Contention

Carte de visite half-length vignette, showing a black infant, with wide-open eyes and mouth, wearing plaid dress

GLC06437

1863

Kimball, W.W., fl. 1886

Photograph

Title: Rebecca, An emancipated slave from New Orleans

Typed inscription on verso reads: "Proceeds from photograph sales go to the "Education of Colored people in the Dept. of the Gulf, now under the command of Major General [Nathaniel] Banks." Photo by Kimball, New Orleans. Depicts a very light-skinned former slave, with straight hair curled into fashionable spirals. She wears a child's day dress with dark trim.

GLC06438

2 May 1864

Draper, John William, 1811-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mrs. Maury

Draper, a chemist and historian, discusses his views on black inferiority. "Inferior races cannot be merged in superior ones, without bringing the standard down. For such reasons I look upon all schemes for the removal of the Blacks by absorption in the whites with the severest reprehension, and not to be tolerated in civilized communities." Attests that there are anatomical differences between blacks and whites. Despite his beliefs, remarks, "But though I am thus led to look upon the Negro as of an inferior grade, I regard him as having equal rights with ourselves in the sight of God. The…

GLC06452.02

27 April 1856

Fillmore, Millard, 1800-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry A. Davis

Responds to Davis's former request for one of Fillmore's speeches on the subject of slavery. Relates that he never saved his speeches. Referring to slavery, remarks "all who know me must know that I am opposed to it. I enclose an article which supports me here on that subject, and my Biography, where you will see a letter at page 49, used against me at the South to prove I am an abolitionist; and two other letters in 1848, which are all I have on the subject." Marked "Private" at the top.

GLC06454

1 July 1852

Smith, W. L. G. (William L. G.), 1814-1878

Broadside

Title: [Advertisement for the book Life at the South, or "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as it is!]

Advertisement for Smith's book by Franklin Whipple. Initialled postscript indicates that Whipple is ready to fill orders. The book was written by W. L. G. Smith. Displays the book's table of contents. Notes the book contains 500 pages with ten illustrations and will cost $1.50. Smith's goal is to depict "...the condition of the Slave in his rude but comfortable cabin... showing that, in the case of the slave at least, contentment bestows more happiness than freedom: and at the same time to represent, as it is, a class of people, viz: The Planter, to whom justice has seldom been done."

GLC06464