24 March 1848

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Newspaper

Title: North star. [Vol. 1, no. 13 (March 24, 1848)]

Douglass' Abolitionist newspaper; re: Theodore Parker's John Quincy Adams eulogy, anti-slavery meetings, etc. Waterstained across top.

GLC06865

1833

Child, Lydia Maria Francis, 1802-1880

Book signed

Title: An Appeal in the Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans

First book of American abolitionist movement; inscribed in pencil with respects of "the author" to J. J. Dixwell. Exlibris stamp of Meadville Theological School on top, with duplicate sold stamp. Includes engravings.

GLC06867

1805

Alexander, Ann Tuke, 1767-1849

Pamphlet

Title: An address to the inhabitants of South Carolina [anti-slavery]

In original blue wrappers. Anti-Slavery pamphlet. Printed by Kimber, Conrad & Co.

GLC06992

1880 ca.

Hastings, fl. 1880

Photograph signed

Title: Harriet Beecher Stowe

Heavily vignetted profile portrait of Stowe as an older woman. Signed on mount.

GLC07093

27 August 1860

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Tyler

Tyler, former President of the United States, elaborates on the 1860 Presidential election to his son Robert. States that he discussed the election with Colonel William T. Withers of Mississippi. Expresses approval at the fusion of Stephen Douglas' and John Bells' supporters in New York, and declares "that in my view the defeat of Lincoln was the great matter at issue, and that all others were subordinate." Encloses a letter (not included) from General Foote, a Douglas supporter. Expresses his support of Presidential candidate John Cabell Breckinridge and Breckinridge's running mate Joseph…

GLC07112

February 21, 1854

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Pamphlet

Title: The landmark of freedom. Speech of Hon. Charles Sumner, against the repeal of the Missouri prohibition of slavery north of 36° 30'. In the Senate, February 21, 1854.

Printed by Buell & Blanchard. Senator Sumner declares, "As a lover of concord and a jealous partisan of all things that make for peace, I am always glad to express my attachment to the Union; but I believe that this bond will be most truly preserved and most beneficently extended... by firmly upholding those principles of Liberty and Justice which were made its early corner-stones." Contains unrelated account figures written in graphite on last page of pamphlet.

GLC07202.04

circa 1863

Women's National Loyal League

Printed document

Title: [Men and Women's Emancipation petitions]

Blank, unsigned petitions for the emancipation of slavery. Folded document. First page is titled "Women's Emancipation Petition," second page is titled "Men's Emancipation Petition." Calls on the U.S. House and Senate to abolish slavery throughout the United States and for a Constitutional amendment to prohibit its existence forever. Instructs sender to mail the form, when completed, to No. 20 Cooper Institute, New York.

GLC07202.05

1 November 1859

Newspaper

Title: Charleston mercury. [Vol. 53, no. 10688 (November 1, 1859)]

Contains coverage of John Brown's Harper's Ferry raid: "The insurrection at Harper's Ferry was simply no insurrection at all. Not a slave joined the reckless fanatics in their nefarious policy of emancipation by blood and treason. It was a silly invasion of Virginia by some eighteen men." Includes other opinions, that the raid was of great significance. Includes a report on the insurgents' trial. Last page contains an article on the San Juan affair and other international news. Also contains reports on a recent local meeting on "Revival of the African Slave Trade." Signed in pencil at…

GLC07203

1861-1877

Neafie, Theodore F., fl. 1861-1877

Header Record

Title: Letters 1st Cal. Regt. re: camp life; southerners; McClellan; slavery [decimalized]

Collection of 60 ALS by Foot Soldier, in first Ca. Regiment. "It is turned into a war to put money in political pockets and to free the niggers;" Lincoln: "His mind is not able to comprehend the simple game of checkers let alone the war like game of chess." Charleston; Maryland, Winchester; Richmond, Deserter Executed; with 8 collateral letters and gold nuggets (0.2 ounces) accompanying #7.

GLC07164

1832/01/21

Randolph, Thomas Jefferson, 1792-1875

Pamphlet

Title: Speech...House of Delegates of Virginia, on the abolition of slavery

Second edition. Argues the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 was unconstitiutional in Ohio due to Northwest ordinance.

GLC07035

1836/04/03

Green, Rawleigh B., fl. 1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Green re: Texas land deals

"The public lands...will be such as a capitalist could purchase to advantage...certainly a good investment unless the abolition questions should affect it."

GLC07141.02

1837/03/18

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Adams Green and Edward Butler Osborne

Abolition of slavery and the right to petition

GLC07693.01

1837/03/20

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: To the Inhabitants of the 12th Congressional District of Massachusetts

GLC07693.02

January 12, 1788

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Huntington

Written by Franklin, signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, as President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania to Huntington as Governor of Connecticut, three days after Connecticut ratified the Constitution. Writes in his capacity as President of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. Sends along several copies of the society's constitution, the laws of Pennsylvania concerning slavery, and a copy of Thomas Clarkson's essay on the commerce of slavery from Africa (a copy of the society's constitution is at GLC07485.02, but the other items…

GLC07485.01

1787

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Pamphlet

Title: The constitution of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of free negroes, unlawfully held in bondage. Begun in the year 1774, and enlarged on the twenty-third of April, 1787...

(title continues)... To which are added, the acts of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the gradual abolition of slavery. Franklin was President of the society, and Benjamin Rush was one of two society secretaries. Includes "An Act to give relief to certain persons taking refuge in the state with respect to their slaves," authorizing those taking refuge in Pennsylvania to keep their slaves.

GLC07485.02

May 1790

Magazine

Title: The universal asylum, and Columbian magazine for May, 1790.

Pages numbered 267-326. Contains "History of the Life and Character of Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. &c." (pages 268-72), "Plan for Improving the Condition of Free Blacks" (281-82), "Thoughts on Female Education by Benjamin Rush" (continued from previous issue, page 288). Covers medical topics, including hepatitis and influenza. Contains articles on a variety of subjects.

GLC07485.03

1859/11/17

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas B. Musgrave re: imprisonment

"I do not feel myself the least degraded by my imprisonment, my chain, or the near prospect of the gallows. Men cannot imprison, or chain, or hang the soul." With engraving, photograph, and collateral paperwork. Per Lee Shepard, Asst. Director for Manuscript and Archives at the Virginia Historical Society, the recipient of John Brown's letter is Thomas B. Musgrave rather than "F.B." Musgrave. Shepard writes (May 2001) that Musgrave "is identified as the son of a New England merchant and industrialist with whom Brown had dealings earlier in his life."

GLC07638.01

1859/11/24

Taliaferro, William Booth, 1822-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: to "My Darling Wife" re: doubting reported plan to rescue Brown

Written while guarding John Brown in prison.

GLC07638.02

1782/05/20-25

Document

Title: The Epistle from the Yearly Meeting Held In London [emancipation]

Contains a letter to friends at the quarterly and monthly meetings in Great Britain and Ireland, and another letter to friends at their yearly meeting in Philadelphia. Both letters guide the conduct of Quakers, and encourage "the continuance of your endeavors for the relief of the poor opressed Africans..." Written in the fifth Quaker month.

GLC07633

1789/06/01-09

Document

Title: The Epistle from the Yearly Meeting Held in London [British abolition efforts]

Quaker meeting regarding the conduct of church members. Mentions the global spread of British abolition efforts: "It is with particular satisfaction we observe the spreading of those principles of justice, which have long bound us to the cause of the injured Africans..." Written in the sixth Quaker month.

GLC07634

18 June 1855

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Thompson re: relocation to North Elba, N.Y.

Written on blue stationery of "J. R. Brown, Wool, Butter and Cheese" which has been crossed out. Docketed.

GLC07589

1859/11/20

Doyle, Mahala, fl. 1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Brown

By the widow and mother of three men killed by Brown in the Pottawatomie massacre: "My son John whose life I begged of [you] is grown up and is very desirous to be at Charlestown on the day of your execution, would certainly be there if his means would permit it, that he might adjust the rope around your neck."Published in the Liberator, 16 December 1859. Also quoted in Robert Penn Warren's John Brown: The Making of a Martyr (1929).

GLC07590

23 September 1772

Sharp, Granville, 1735-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anthony Benezet

Written by the British abolition leader Sharp to the American Quaker abolition leader Benezet. References Benezet's letter of 14 May 1772. Sends him (not included here) a short answer he "drew up to check the insinuations of those persons who pretend to excuse the practice of Slaveholding by some particular passages of Scripture." Says this is only a small part of what he hopes to write if he can find the leisure. Also sends a copy of a letter he wrote to a friend in Glasgow (not included here) trying to dissuade "the late Highland Emigrants" from going to America, but he was too late. He…

GLC07483.03

February 1, 1853

Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas W. Higginson

Discusses their list of lecturers, including Frederick Douglass, which he will publish in the next issue of the Liberator. Believes Douglass is on his way from Rochester and will be able to lecture on the 18th. Praises Higginson's speech as "excellent in manner, matter and spirit." On blue paper.

GLC07483.04

13 March 1864

Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Adam G. De Gurowski

Apologizes for not acknowledging Count Gurowski's correspondence sooner. Mentions the Count's diary, which was published as a pamphlet and states he would love to see public opinion run in the same channels. States, "I am hard at work in the trenches..." as his reason for not responding.

GLC07483.11