27 October 1864

Bondurant & Elliot

Newspaper

Title: Daily Richmond whig [no volume and number (October 27, 1864)]

Contains an image of the Virginia state seal. Not a complete copy, missing pages 1 and 2. Copy of General Jubal Early's address to his troops and an editoral lauding its contents. From Northern newspapers, reports on Ulysses Grant's campaign against Richmond. News item predicts that Wilmington, North Carolina will soon be attacked. 3 column report from the Whig's own correspondant on "The Seven Months' Campaign against Richmond Considered as a Whole." Update on affairs in Missouri. News of a free black, age 14, killed when he fell attempting to "steal a ride on the Camp Lee train." Short…

GLC05959.79

1862

Bates, Edward, 1793-1869

Pamphlet signed

Title: Opinion of Attorney General Bates on citizenship.

With original wrapper. First edition printed by the Government Printing Office. Inscribed on front cover to R. R. Hazard from Bates in 1863. This pamphlet is a printing of a letter from Bates to Salmon Portland Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, answering the question "whether or not colored men can be citizens of the United States." Bates answers, "the free man of color, mentioned in your letter, if born in the United States, is a citizen of the United States, and, if otherwise qualified, is competent, according to the acts of Congress, to be master of a vessel engaged in the coasting…

GLC05775

21 September 1781

Bailey, Francis, 1744-1817

Broadside

Title: Postscript to the Freeman's Journal, Sept. 21.

This document is a copy of the Postscript to the Freeman's Journal from 21 September 1781. It contains letter from a free black man named Cato, "a poor negro," complaining of a newly proposed act that would have sent free blacks back into slavery. Also includes a continued recount of the proceedings of the assembly, a letter to the printer about the anniversary of the Battle of Bemis Heights, 19 September 1777, and a few other news items.

GLC05818

1853

Northup, Solomon, 1808-?

Book

Title: Twelve years a slave: narrative of Solomon Northup, a citizen of New York, kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and rescued in 1853, from a cotton plantation near the red river, in Louisiana.

Published in Auburn by Derby and Miller; Buffalo, New York by Derby, Orton and Mulligan; and Cincinnati, Ohio by Henry W. Derby. Woodcut illustrations. Northup dedicates the book to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

GLC05840

1855

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Book

Title: My bondage and my freedom. Part I : Life as a slave. Part II : Life as a freeman. By Frederick Douglass with an introduction. By James McCune Smith.

Published by Miller, Orton & Mulligan. Includes an engraving of a young Douglass by J. C. Buttre from a daguerreotype. Signed on front free yellow endpaper by Maggie R. Marriott 1 June 1861.

GLC05820

1868

Keckley, Elizabeth, fl. 1818-1907

Book

Title: Behind the scenes. By Elizabeth Keckley, formerly a slave, yet more recently modiste, and friend to Mrs. Abraham Lincoln...

(title continues)... or, thirty years a slave, and four years in the White House. 371 pages, followed by eight pages of advertisements. Published by G. W. Carleton & Co. Contains a print of Keckley opposite title page. Discusses her service to Jefferson Davis, among other topics. Appendix includes letters from Mary Lincoln to Keckley.

GLC05839

1856

Thompson, John, 1812-?

Book

Title: The life of John Thompson, a fugitive slave; containing his history of 25 years in bondage, and his providential escape. [incomplete]

First edition. Incomplete copy lacking pages 99-106 in chapter 15. In the introduction, Thompson writes: "I am aware that now, when public opinion makes it no martyrdom to denounce slavery, there are multitudes of men that grow bold, and wield a powerful weapon against this great evil; and even school boys daringly denounce a system, the enormity of which they cannot appreciate, surely I thought it may be permitted to one who has worn the galling yoke of bondage, to say something of its pains, and something of that freedom which, if he should succeed in accurately defining, he can truly say…

GLC05841

circa 1910

Twain, Mark, 1835-1910

Pamphlet

Title: The suppressed chapter of "life on the Mississippi"

Leaflet consisting of the suppressed chapter of Twain's book Life on the Mississippi, which was published in 1883. First edition. Marked as number 230 of 250 numbered copies of the first printing. Comparing Northern and Southern society, Twain discusses public indifference. Criticizes the tendency for Southerners to maintain similar opinions and to vote the same way. Opens by stating "I missed one thing in the South- African slavery. That horror is gone, and permanently ... half the South is at last emancipated, half the South is free. But the white half is apparently as far from…

GLC05847

5 November 1876

Ingraham, Linton S., 1856-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Hamilton Stephens

Ingrahm writes as a student at the University of Atlanta to Stephens, his former master. Saw Barner Shelgrin yesterday, as he promised Stephens he would, noting that Shelgrin is still on crutches and will be for seven or eight months. Of life as a student, writes, "I have to saw wood every morning, after breakfast one hour we have to work one hour evry day and two hour evry Saturday. we get tolerably fare eating up here not the findest [finest] and not worst... The class what Studies Latin will not commece [commence] until Chrismas..." Mentions Fannie and Ginny.

GLC05850

1866

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Print

Title: Abraham Lincoln entering Richmond, April 3, 1865

Engraving by J. C. Buttre from a drawing by L. Hollis. Published by B.B. Russell & Co., Boston. Shows Lincoln with his son Tad on a visit to Richmond. African American men, women, and children are rejoicing around him.

GLC05866

15 August 1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to William Martin Dickson

Butler, a Union General and Radical Republican, discusses Jacob Dolson Cox's views on creating separate states for former slaves. Informs Dickson, a Republican judge and political figure in Ohio, that "The supposition that the negro can be segregated on a given portion of this country apart from the white man in a separate community occupying a part of our Sea Board, whether as a dependency or an independency, to say nothing of constitutional objections is simply absurd ..." Discusses pride of race, the failings of Native American reservations in Georgia, and the views of Clement Laird…

GLC05872

1850

Tappan, Lewis, 1788-1873

Pamphlet

Title: The fugitive slave bill: its history and unconstitutionality

Gives various arguments why the Fugitive Slave bill should be declared unconstitutional. Also tells the story of James Hamlet, a mulatto arrested under the law despite protests that he was not a slave. Eventually Hamlet was returned to freedom. Full title reads: "The Fugitive Slave Bill: its history and unconstitutionality; with an account of the seizure and enslavement of James Hamlet, and his subsequent restoration to liberty." Printed by William Harned. First edition. With handwritten notes in an unknown hand in pencil on pages 24-6, 28, 30, 32, 24 and 36.

GLC05118

18 August 1862-11 September 1864

Green, Joseph F., 1811-1897

Manuscript document

Title: [Letter books of Captain Joseph Foster Green of the USS Canandaigua] [word processed inventory available]

Three letter books from the USS "Canandaigua," belonging to Captain Joseph F. Green, the Commander of the Charleston Blockade Squadron. Volume 1 covers 18 August 1862-25 September 1863. Volume 2 covers 25 September 1863-30 April 1864. Volume 3 covers 30 April 1864-11 September 1864. Volumes 1-2 are the same size (34.3 x 21.3 cm.) while the third volume is different (32.4 x 20.3 cm.). These letter books contain copies of his official correspondence as commander of the Charleston Squadron in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Most deal with administrative matters, statistical…

GLC05126

6 January 1864

Couthouy, Joseph Pitty, 1808-1864

Letter signed

Title: to David Dixon Porter

Couthouy, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant commanding the U.S.S. Chillicothe, expresses his mortification at seeing the U.S.S. Osage, a ship formerly under his command, listed as having failed to comply with General Order No. 31, which required monthly reports of contrabands. Informs Navy Rear Admiral Porter that no list of contrabands was sent after August 1863 because Couthouy had been "instructed that freed blacks, regularly enlisting in the Naval Service of the United States, ceased thereupon, to be regarded as 'Contrabands.'" States that Lieutenant Commander Frank M. Ramsay, Commanding the…

GLC07308

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

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

February 23, 1866

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Bradford R. Wood

Bryant, editor of the New York Evening Post, replies to a letter from Wood, former Representative from New York. Discusses Black suffrage: "I utterly detest the narrow principles of that party which denied equal rights to any of our fellow men on account of race. The right of suffrage is the due of the negro as well as of the white man... But it does not follow from this, that we may employ any means we choose in conferring this right." Regarding Black suffrage, advocates the opinions of Trumbull and Fessenden (probably Senators Lyman Trumbull and William Pitt Fessenden) as opposed to the…

GLC06631.01

11 July 1865

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to F. A. Angell

General Butler writes to Angell in Brooklyn, New York. "A mans right to self government is inherent and inalienable. It does not depend on the degree of his intelligence or on other accident. It is the correlative of self defence. Is the negro a man? But it is said that the negro will vote as his late master directs, and thus increase his master's political power. Be it so... I do not see how he or we are worse off if the negro votes with him [the master]... we gain and can loose nothing by giving the negro the right of suffrage."

GLC06660

20 May 1829

Marshall, John, 1755-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Mercer Garnett

Written by Marshall as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to Garnett, the well-known Virginia politician and agricultural enthusiast and pamphleteer. Recipient inferred from Marshall's reference to "your" pamphlet "Reply to the Enquiries of a Freeholder," which was written by Garnett. Marshall states his private belief that the right to vote must be tied to land ownership. Says not all rights that Americans speak of are natural rights. Remarks that some "rights exist in a state of nature, but are surrendered, as it seems to me, when he enters into a state of society, in exchange for…

GLC06682

July 1788- December 1788

Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839

Magazine

Title: The American Museum: or repository of ancient and modern fugitive pieces, & c. prose and poetical. Volume IV.

Printed by Carey. Carey dedicates this volume to General George Washington. Includes a printing of Washington's farewell orders to the armies of the United States, issued 2 November 1783 from Rocky Hill, near Princeton, New Jersey (pages 240-242). Also includes a letter observing that in Maryland, "negroes are to be introduced [in Maryland] instead of paper money as a medium of commerce" (page 52). Includes various indications of ownership on inner front and back covers (formerly owned by Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia). Also includes, "Observations on bartering Negroes," "An account…

GLC06565

circa 1824

Woodson, Cuffy, fl. 1824

Document signed

Title: [Petition for the emancipation for Fanny and Patsy Woodson]

Official document reporting that since Cuffy Woodson was emancipated, he purchased his wife Fanny Woodson, "a mulatto woman," and her child Patsy from his former master Micajob Moorman. Cuffy "further represents to your worship that the sd. Fanny & Patsy have done good & meritorious services to him by their extraordinary obedience fidelity & affection & that it is naturally against his feeling to hold his sd wife Fanny and his child Patsy as his slaves, & he hopes this this feeling will not be deem'd unworthy of being sanctioned by your worship. He therefore prays that…

GLC06592

January 22, 1849

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Willis A. Hodges

Discusses arrangements at North Elba, and upcoming plans for this African American farming settlement. Says money is being raised to help the "infant colony," urges residents not to lay out plots yet, but instead cut wood. Also discusses the conduct of the residents, saying "Do not let any one forget the vast importance of sustaining the very best character for honesty, truth, industry, and faithfulness. I hope every one will be determined to not merely conduct as well as the whites; but to set them an example in all things." Brown planned on moving up to North Elba in the spring, and…

GLC06615

1843

Lattimer, George, fl. 1843

Pamphlet

Title: Massachusetts Congress "House No. 41" [slave case]

Account of slave case of George Lattimer. First and only edition. Original wrappers. Lattimer, a free black Boston resident, had been arrested on application of James Gray of Norfolk, Va., as his escaped slave. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, acting as Circuit Judge, had Lattimer detained. Many Bostonians were outraged, and a meeting at Fanueil Hall voted that disunion was preferable to returning slaves. With the threat of massive civil disobedience, Gray sold Lattimer to a group of Bostonians for $400. A result of this incident (included in this pamphlet) was the passage of "An Act to…

GLC06838