5 January 1863

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Broadside

Title: An Address to the People of the Free States by the President of the Southern Confederacy.

Contemporary fake on emancipation. Imprint, "Richmond Enquirer Print." A fictitious response of Jefferson Davis to the Emancipation Proclamation, threatening retaliation by enslaving Black people. It says in part "All negroes who shall be taken in any of the states in which slavery does not now exist, in the progress of our arms, shall be adjudged, immediately after such capture, to occupy the slave status, and in all states which shall be vanquished by our arms, all free negroes shall, ipso facto, be reduced to the condition of helotism...."

GLC05018

24 June 1865

Hatch, John Porter, 1822-1901

Autograph document signed

Title: General Orders No. 62

Marked as a "True Copy." Contracts between planters and freedmen: "any contact... which contains provisions tending to peonage, will be considered null."

GLC05037

12 June 1865

Holden, William Woods, 1818-1892

Broadsheet

Title: [Proclamation establishing a provisional government in North Carolina]

Proclamation establishing a provisional government in North Carolina, in which Holden directly addresses the "colored people of the State." Issued by Holden, the first man to be appointed as a provisional governor of any state east of the Mississippi; also includes the printed name of his son and private secretary, Joseph William Holden. Issued a month and a half after Joseph E. Johnston's formal surrender. Includes a declaration stating "To the colored people of the State I would say, you are free ... It now remains for you, aided as you will be by the superior intelligence of the white…

GLC05082

1863

Photograph

Title: [Port Hudson, Provost Marshall's Quarters]

A print of a photograph taken in Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863. It portrays a cabin with black women laborers gathered in front and black soldiers lined up on the side. Pencil description written on back notes that Provost Marshall Captain Schenk [?] stands in the doorway of the house. Said to be a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. Either McPherson & Oliver or the same photographer who did the winter scene (next item). It is a mounted albumen print.

GLC05111.01.0014

1865

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph

Title: Views In and Around Richmond, VA.

One photograph entitled, "Views In and Around Richmond, VA," taken by Mathew Brady dated 1865. The image shows a large number of soldiers, sailors, civilians, freedmen, and women posed in front of the U. S. Sanitary Commission (USSC) building in Richmond.

GLC05111.01.0046

1863

French & Co.

Photograph

Title: Courthouse showing the [illegible] marks recieved by it during the Siege

A print of a photograph of the Old Courthouse of Warren County, in Vicksburg, MS. Title taken from inscription on recto. A group of emancipated enslaved people are gathered near a brick structure to the left of the court house. Union soldiers, cavalry, and an artillery gun can be seen surrounding the court house. Stamp of "French & Co., photographers, Vicksburg, Miss." on recto. Despite the claims of the title, there is very little damage present on the building itself. The building is still standing as of 2017 and is preserved as a museum.

GLC05111.01.0095

March 1864

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: Scouts and guides of the Army of the Potomac, Brandy Station, VA. March 1864.

A print of a photograph of a large group including two black contraband wearing white aprons in the center-left of the image and a third young black contraband squatting on the far right. Some of the soldiers wear cavalry jackets. Others in the group appear to be civilians because of their dress. Behind a field of crops is a brick house. Number "102" scratched in the negative three times. A nearly identical image except with the young black boy standing with the others in the second row can be seen in .0372. See GLC 5111.01.0372

GLC05111.01.0121

August 1864

Photograph

Title: Petersburg, Va. Officers of the 114th Pennsylvania Infantry playing cards in front of tents

A print of a photograph of Union officers playin cards. The soldiers sit at a table in their camp in the woods playing cards while behind, two back servants look on. One holds a tray with a bottle and a drink poured into a small cup. Three of the soldiers are smoking pipes and the man seated on the left wears a camp / smoking cap. The soldiers are From left: Captain A. H. G. Richardson, Captain J. S. Richardson, unidentified, Captain J. S. Crawford, unidentified, Captain Harry E. Rulon. The 114th Penn. enlisted men wore brick red baggy trousers, white leggings, dark blue jackets with red trim…

GLC05111.01.0123

November 1862

Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882

Photograph

Title: "What do I want, John Henry?"

A photographic print of three Union officers and two civilians in front of two large tents. Title from Gardner's Sketchbook No. 27 which reproduces this image with a text concerning "John Henry" [a former slave noted for his intelligence] and "Captain H--," quartermaster at headquarters. This famous image shows a young Black man waiting on a white Union captain. Labeled "2076" on negative.

GLC05111.01.0101

1893

Smith, Amanda, 1837-1915

Book

Title: An Autobiography: The Story of the Lord's Dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith

One book entitled An Autobiography: The Story of the Lord's Dealings with Mrs. Amanda Smith published 1893. This book is broken into thirty six chapters and details Smith's life as a free woman after her father bought the freedom of his family during her childhood. She also details her marriages and work with the Holiness Church through which she became the first black woman to work as an international evangelist in 1878.

GLC09947

May 1863

Educational Commission for Freedmen (Boston, Mass.)

Pamphlet

Title: First annual report of the educational commission for freedmen.

Printed by Prentiss & Deland. Discusses the Port Royal Experiment, in which former slaves successfully worked on land abandoned by plantation owners on islands off the coast of South Carolina. Includes a report of the committee of teachers sent to Port Royal: "The instruction most needed by the blacks was not in the knowledge of school books, but in that which should lead them to appreciate the advantages of civilized life, to relinquish many of the habits and customs of slavery, and to learn the duties and responsibilities of free men." John Albion Andrew was chosen as President of…

GLC06232.15

9 April 1847

Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866

Broadside

Title: [General orders no. 101 regarding the trial of a free African American man]

Isaac Kirk, referred to as "a free man of color" and "a resident and citizen of the United States," is charged with, convicted of, and sentenced to hang for the rape of Maria Antonias Gallegas, a Mexican woman. Duplicate of GLC00911.02.

GLC06366.02

14 March 1864

Crenshaw, O. A., fl. 1845-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Alexander Seddon

Crenshaw, a surgeon, requests that Seddon allow James Bolling, a free African American from Charles City, Virginia, to remain in Crenshaw's employment as a fisherman. Informs Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War, that "Fish are necessary to the support of my remaining negroes most of the valuable ones having been ... taken by the enemy." Declares that "If all the free negro fisherman are taken for govt service, then the people in and around Richmond must suffer greatly for want of food." Includes several dockets dated March 1864. One docket indicates that Bolling's services are necessary…

GLC06374

August 1863

Walker, T.A., fl. 1863-1865

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Teacher's payroll for African American schools in Memphis, Tennessee]

Signed by Walker, Captain of the 63rd U.S. Colored Infantry and Superintendent of the Freedmen, District of West Tennessee. Lists the amount of pay received by 14 teachers of African American schools in Memphis, Tennessee, 22 July 1863- 24 August 1863. Signed by A. E. Matson, S. A. Sprague, J. B. Johnston, F. A. Kiddoo, William Bailey, P. W. Bailey, S. A. Bailey, S. G. Bailey, T. N. Stewart, R. M. Stewart, S. E. Vaughn, L. F. Randolph, E. Randolph, and G. A. Graham, all teachers in Memphis. Rates of pay for the month range from $20-$29.95.

GLC06376

26 April 1853

Darbee, L. & Son, fl. 1853

Newspaper

Title: Williamsburgh Daily Gazette [Vol. 18, no. 290, whole no. 1675 (April 26, 1853)]

Includes preview of a work soon to be published called "The Narrative of Solomon Northrop, a Citizen of New York, Kidnapped and Sold into Slavery in Washington City, in 1844, and Rescued in 1853 from a cotton plantation, near the Red River, in Louisiana." Also shows an image of women running a printing press on the last page. Other local news, ads, and announcements.

GLC06069.01

6 November 1861

Snowden, E., Jr., fl. 1861-1862

Newspaper

Title: The local news. [no volume or number information (November 6, 1861)]

Union occupation newspaper. Also published by W.F. Carne (fl. 1861-1862). Short item says the body of "the negro lad Sam," who had drowned in Hunting Creek during a previous storm, had been found. Report on the popularity of "Foot-ball" -- says it is played everywhere by both boys and men but "We suggest, however, that the game be discarded in all the business streets - so that passers-by - especially ladies, be not incommoded by dashing balls and gangs of lads running at full tilt." Quick line says General Winfield Scott is leaving for Europe. News items from the South, including remarks on…

GLC06107.02

circa 1813

Forten, James, 1766-1842

Pamphlet

Title: Letters from a man of colour, on a late bill before the Senate of Pennsylvania.

An eloquent response to a bill in the Pennsylvania senate to stop the emigration of people of color into the state. Forten wrote anonymously, signing his letters "A Man of Colour." Five letters respond to the Pennsylvania bill, arguing that Pennsylvania has been a refuge for emancipated Black people have unalienable rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, which are protected by the Constitution. Forten writes, "The dog is protected and pampered at the board of his master, while the poor African and his descendant, whether a Saint or a felon, is branded with infamy, registered…

GLC06046

1830

Andrews, Charles C., fl. 1830

Book

Title: The history of the New-York African free-school, from their establishment in 1787, to the present time; embracing a period of more than forty years: also a brief account of the succesful labors of the New-York Manumission Society

Written by Andrews as the principal of the African Free School. Printed by Mahlon Day at 376 Pearl Street in New York. First edition copy. Includes engraving of the school building, from a drawing by a student, opposite the title page. Provides a history of the institution and how the manumission society attempted to provide for the future of free blacks. Andrews is overflowing with praise for the activities of the school, its students, and the famous political leaders who were members of the manumission society. Page 123 provides a list of the school's top five students: Peter Williams the…

GLC06084

15 October 1864

Sandoz, Joel H., fl. 1840-1864

Newspaper

Title: The Opelousas courier. [Vol. 12, no. 20 (October 15, 1864)]

Proclaims importance of states' rights. Discusses use of taxes, freed slaves, labor. French translation on right side. Printed on brown-sepia paper. Green and white floral pattern.

GLC05988.21

2 May 1863

White, Jonathon C., fl. 1862-1863

Newspaper

Title: The weekly junior register. [Vol. 2, no. 17 (May 2, 1863)]

Printed by Union forces the day they captured the city during Banks's Red River Expedition. Order by Gen. Banks congratulating his troops for their victories. Circular "To Capitalists" discusses investment opportunities with 14 rules for employment of free Negroes. Ink note: "This paper was printed by the soldiers of the175th NY Vols. on the morning after the capture of Franklin, La by Union forces under Maj. Gen Banks." Inscription of Thos. Beckett, M.D. Surgeon, 175th NY. Wallpaper has three romantic Mediterranean peasant scenes printed on tan paper (pattern # 1958).

GLC05988.26

circa 1870

Child, Lydia Maria Francis, 1802-1880

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Incomplete essay on religious tolerance on verso of letter fragments from Edmonia Lewis and Samuel J. May]

Contains an incomplete essay (pages five, six, and seven) discussing religious tolerance written by Child, an author, scholar, and abolitionist. Child discusses religious tolerance, stating "People who are educated under one system of religion can never perhaps quite realize how another faith appears to those who have grown up under its influence; but sincere efforts to do this are among the most hopeful signs of the times." Discusses books of different religions and differentiation between religious symbolism and language. In pencil below her signature, Child invites the recipient to…

GLC06114

1 December 1786

Champion, Richard, 1743-1791

Manuscript document signed

Title: Certificate of freedom for Peter a free Negro

Written by Champion for the Court of Common Pleas in Camden County held on 27 November 1786. Document certifies the freedom "of the Negro Peter lately claimed by William Massey." It states that Peter "hath been adjudged a free Man and ... he shall be deemed held and taken as a free Man during his Life." Document was witnessed, but not signed by, Henry Pendleton, an associate justice of the state. Red wax seal is extant on bottom of recto.

GLC06147

1857

Steward, Austin, 1794-1860

Book

Title: Twenty-two years a slave, and forty years a free man; embracing a correspondence of several years, while president of Wilberforce Colony, London, Canada West.

First edition. Published by William Alling. Includes engraving of Steward. Contains a printed portrait of Steward opposite title page. Signed on inner front cover by Mrs. John Garrett.

GLC06149

1861

Wilkerson, James, fl. 1861

Pamphlet

Title: Wilkerson's History of his travels & labors, in the United States, as a missionary, in particular, that of Union Seminary, in Franklin Co. Ohio. Since he purchased his liberty in New Orleans, La., &c.

First edition. No printer cited. In original yellow wrappers. Signed on back cover by Samuel Allen.

GLC06150

1884

Truth, Sojourner, 1797-1883

Book

Title: A narrative of Sojourner Truth; a bondswoman of olden time, emancipated by the New York Legislature in the early part of the present century...

(title continues)... with a history of her labors and correspondence drawn from her 'Book of Life;' also, a memorial chapter, giving the particulars of her last sickness and death." Published by the Review and Herald Office in 1884, Battle Creek, Michigan. Signed in 1885 on inner front cover by noted abolitionist Amy Post and close friend of Frederick Douglass, presenting this book to her son Willet E. Post. Olive Gilbert collaborated with Truth for the "Narrative." 320 pages, plus 32 page memorial chapter. Contains several engravings of Truth.

GLC06153