1810-1812

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

Header Record

Title: Lear family archive of 6 items during service as US Consul in Algiers [Decimalized .01- .06]

GLC07827

circa 1830-1840

Broadside

Title: Views of slavery

Abolitionist broadside with six images depicting kidnapping, torture, auction, and labor of enslaved people. With Channing quotation, "Our laws know no higher crime than that of reducing a man to slavery. To steal or to buy an African on his own shores is a piracy." Lithograph drawings.

GLC06477

1896

Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt, 1868-1963

Book

Title: The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the USA 1638-1870

8vo. Printed by Longsman, Green & Co. First edition of Du Bois's first book. Howes D522.

GLC06983

January 1883

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Sends his autograph to an unknown recipient with a quotation: "What does it imply? The Mongolian, the Hebrew, the African, the least aggressive and sanguinary of men, why are the most hated and persecuted by Christian nations?"

GLC05716

22 July 1851

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Robinson Hazard

Clay writes from Ashland, his estate, to Hazard, the noted reformer. Declines an invitation to visit Hazard in Rhode Island, relating that he will not be able to leave home this summer due to ill health. Also due to his health, this letter is written by an amanuensis. Notes that though the climate and sea bathing of Rhode Island would aid his health, "the journey, the cities, the crowds, and the company which I should encounter would neutralize any advantage that I should derive from visiting Newport." Agrees with Hazard on African colonization, remarking, "Its success and prosperity are…

GLC05721

1835

Pamphlet

Title: Proceedings of the Colonization Society of the city of New York... [Liberia]

Full title: "Proceedings of the Colonization Society of the City of New York, at their third annual meeting, held on the 13th and 14th of May, 1835, including the annual report of the Board of Managers, to the Society." Concerning the colony of freed slaves established in Liberia. An appendix publishes newspaper accounts of speeches from the meeting. The last page has a poem of L.H. Sigourney entitled "Liberia." Published by Wm. A. Mercein and Son, Pearl Street.

GLC05215

1826

Shaler, William, 1773-1833

Book

Title: Sketches of Algiers, political, historical and civil...

Printed by Cummings, Hilliard and Company. First edition. Original worn paperboards and quarter leather. Written by Shaler as American Consul General at Algiers. Includes chapter 7 "Extracts of the journal kept in the consulate of the United States, at Algiers," which appears to be the only original materials. (The rest appears to derive from other works, as per Shaler's preface.)

GLC05246.04

3 March 1841

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Book

Title: Message from the President of the United States, transmitting a report from the Secretary of State, in relation to seizures or search of American vessels, & c.

House doc. no. 115. Pertains to "Search or seizure of American vessels on coast of Africa, & c."

GLC05163

1817

Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829

Pamphlet

Title: A view of exertions lately made for the purposes of colonizing the free people of colour, in the United States, in Africa, or elsewhere

A pamphlet containing Bushrod's memorial as president of the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Color of the United States, along with other writings on the subject of colonization. Includes speeches by Henry Clay and many others, resolutions, and a "brief sketch of Sierra Leone." Printed by Jonathan Elliot. Disbound pamphlet.

GLC05181

30 May 1924

Carver, George Washington, 1864-1943

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Hardwick

Discusses at great length Hardwick's emerging spirituality. Carver mentions that he created a medicine from peanuts to alleviate respiratory problems after hearing a sermon about an African girl who converted to Christianity and then died, probably from tuberculosis.

GLC05508.063

31 May 1850

Clarke, Matthew St. Clair, 1791-1852

Printed letter signed

Title: [American Colonization Society circular proposing steamship line between the United States and Africa]

Addressed to "His Excellency the Gov of NJ" (Daniel Haines). Signed by [Matthew St. Clair Clarke]. Copy of the memorial of Joseph Bryan, of Alabama, to Congress, proposing to establish a line of steam ships between the U.S. and Africa. Cites the need for maintaining a naval force on the western coast of Africa, the need for extinguishing the slave trade, to extend trade between the United States and Africa, and to convey that emancipated people can emigrate to Africa, if they wish.

GLC05492

7 January 1840

Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862

Document signed

Title: [Orders for transport of the Amistad captives]

Countersigned by John Forsyth as Secretary of State. President Van Buren writes to Norris Wilcox, Marshal of the District of Connecticut. States: "The Marshal of the United States for the District of Connecticut will deliver over to Lieutenant John S. Paine, of the United States Navy, and aid in conveying on board the schooner Grampus, under his command all the negroes late of the Spanish schooner Amistad, in his custody under process now pending before the District Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. For so doing this order will be his warrant."

GLC05636.01

30 October 1839

Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840

Letter

Title: to William S. Holabird

The body of the letter appears to be clerically written; the signature has been clipped and someone has written "Felix Grundy" in a different hand beneath. Grundy, Attorney General of the United States, informs Holabird, District Attorney of Connecticut: "It is necessary that I should know, what legal proceedings are now pending in your District, in relation to the negroes and vessel Amistad- You will be good enough to give the information at your earliest convenience- You named to the President, that you intended to visit Washington; will you do so, and when? Where was the Amistad, when…

GLC05636.03

1829-1853

Header Record

Title: Papers related to the Amistad mutiny [Decimalized .01-.59]

This collection contains the papers of William S. Holabird, who served as United States District Attorney for the state of Connecticut during the Amistad trial. These materials include a letter of Judge Andrew T. Judson which suggests executive interference in the proceedings (#5), depositions of the Spanish minister (#7-9), testimony of witnesses (#10-14), and important letters of Secretary of State John Forsyth instructing Holabird on the Amistad case (#17-23). Also includes Holabird's commission as United States District Attorney (#16). Contains political or legal letters for the period…

GLC05636

April-June 1840

Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

Autograph document

Title: [Brief from the Circuit Court regarding the Amistad case]

Referring to Lieutenant Thomas R. Gedney, includes information pertaining to the Amistad case: "Gidney & others v. The Amistad Negroes. Circuit court U.S." Considers four principle points: "shall the vessel, & the blacks, be restored to the Spanish Government from whence they came;" "whether these negroes shall be restored to the Spanish Govt or be sit at liberty here;" "The Spanish Govt claim that the Amistad being a Sp vessel, and not having violated the laws of nations, on the municipal laws of this country... that the Courts of no other nation can hold jurisdiction of them;" and…

GLC05636.02

1854

Foote, Andrew H. (Andrew Hull), 1806-1863

Book

Title: Africa and the American Flag. By Commander Andrew H. Foote. U.S. Navy, Lieutenant commanding U.S. Brig. Perry on the Coast of Africa, A.D. 1850-1851.

Signed by Rear Admiral Semmes on the inner front cover. 390 pages of text followed by 18 pages of advertisements. Includes lithographs as illustration. Published by D. Appleton & Co. Discusses Western European and American interests in the African coast.

GLC05675

1808

Broadside

Title: 5000 American Seamen detained on board British vessels!

Alerts citizens to British impressment, American prisoners in France, "Algerine Piracy and Barbarity," and the relocation of American families to Canada, and blames it all on the Embargo Act of 1807. Urges "a hearty vote for the ANTI-EMBARGO and FEDERAL REPUBLICAN TICKET" in the election of 1808.

GLC07703

26 June 1825

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smith Shaw

Former President Adams discusses Native American and African religion with Shaw, his nephew and former private secretary. States "Dr. Jarvis has assigned some good causes of the too general inattention to the religion of the indians. But those causes do not apply to the negroes. We have thousands if not millions of them domesticated with us. We might examine them. But who asks them a question? Or studies their languages ... Why are not Bibles translated into negro and sent to the gold coast?" Refers to a slave named Glasgow owned by Boston pastor Samuel Cooper. States that when Cooper…

GLC07533

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

20 September 1839

Eldredge, N. T., fl. 1839

Newspaper

Title: New York times and commercial intelligencer. [Vol. 3, no. 472 (September 20, 1839)]

Contains an article discussing the Amistad case. States "Very considerable doubts are entertained, I find, whether the grand jury will bring in a bill for any crime against the Africans; in which case the whole discussion will be on the various civil claims set up- namely, by the Spaniards to the Africans as slaves, and by the officers and crew of the Washington to salvage on the schooner and cargo..." Contains an advertisement for the Presidential campaign of Henry Clay. Includes notices of sale and scheduled shipping departures and arrivals.

GLC08812

March 30,1846

Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1795-1849

Document signed

Title: [Pardon of Robert Baker for engaging in the slave trade].

Countersigned by James Buchanan. Baker, 1st mate on the Brig "Montivedio", was convicted of engaging in the slave trade between Africa and Brazil and sentenced to serve 6 months in prison and pay a $500 fine and court costs. Pardoned after serving twelve months in prison because of his poverty (inability to pay the fine) and excellent conduct.

GLC00043.11

30 June 1881

Garfield, James A. (James Abram), 1831-1881

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William Siler as U.S. Consul at Capetown].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Blaine. Signed two days before James A. Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau, a disappointed officer-seeker who wanted to be appointed a U.S. consul. Accompanied by paper seal.

GLC00073

1 October 1785

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: Instructions to John Lamb to treat with Algiers

Co-signed by Jefferson 11 October 1785 in Paris. Lamb was instructed to confer with Minister Carmichael in Spain, then proceed to Algiers. The Continental Congress sent John Lamb to negotiate with Dey Mohomet of Algiers for the release of 21 Americans held as prisoners and to secure safe passage of American vessels in the Mediterranean. The Dey demanded $3,000 ransom per man, twice as much as he asked of other nations. Lamb returned home in 1789 without securing a treaty. Also written in Paris, France

GLC00345

1837

eman, Frederick, 1799-1883

Book

Title: A plea for Africa, being familiar conversations on the subject of slavery and colonization, [originally published under the title "Yaradee."]

Published by J. Whetham. Discusses African history, slavery, and colonization. Contains reviews following the appendix. Also includes an advertisement for Psalmodia, another book by Freeman. On inner front cover, contains a Henry F. Porter, Circulating Library, Naugatuck, Connecticut sticker.

GLC00267.392

circa 29 October 1843

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858

Document signed

Title: [General Order no. 8 regarding African Squadron vessels' procedure for obtaining supplies]

One letter written by Commodore Matthew Perry dated October 29, 1843. Contains orders that fresh provisions and medicaid aid must be approved by the commanding officers before given to members of the African Squadron. Signed on behalf of the Commanding U.S. Naval Officers on the West African Coast.

GLC01126