12 October 1893

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Typed letter signed

Title: to Mr. Peck

Typed on stationery of the Exposition Universelle de Chicago, Pavillon Haitien. Sympathizes with Peck, recently removed from a governmental office. Notes that he would have written a letter to the President (Grover Cleveland) on Peck's behalf, but felt he had no influence with the present administration. Remarks, "I do not like to fight, unless I have a hope of hitting somebody. I have no claims on this democratic administration whatever. I did all I could to get it out of power, and do not feel now like begging it to keep my friends in office."

GLC02990

25 April 1888

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sherman

Intends to give Sherman a copy of a speech he (Douglass) gave on the 26th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, if the speech is published. Supports Sherman's attempt for the presidency on the Republican ticket. Written on Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D.C. stationery.

GLC02841

19 May 1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christopher C. Sniffen

Douglass writes to Sniffen, secretary for President Ulysses S. Grant. Informs Sniffen, "it will be convenient for me to call at the Executive Mansion on Monday Morning, and if I learn nothing from you meanwhile requesting otherwise I will call on Monday at eleven o. clock am."

GLC03893.01

15 October 1885

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Signature

Title: [Clipped signature]

GLC03893.02

1863

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Broadside

Title: Men of Color: To Arms! Now or Never... [recruitment broadside]

One broadside entitled Men of Color: To Arms! Now or Never. dated 1863. Dramatic oversize recruitment broadside appealing to free African-Americans to enlist for three years. The broadside asks "Are freemen less brave than slaves[?]" Subscribed in type by Douglass and fifty-four other African-American leaders, including William Forten, Rev. William T. Catto, Rev. Stephen Smith, Rev. J.C. Gibbs, and many others. Per David Blight letter, it appeared Spring 1863. (This broadside reprints a Douglass editorial.)

GLC10021

16 April 1883

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: Address by Hon. Frederick Douglass, delivered in the Congregational Church, Washington, D.C., April 16, 1883 : on the twenty-first anniversary of emancipation, in the District of Columbia.

"What Abraham Lincoln said in respect of the United States is as true of the colored people as of the relations of those States. They cannot remain half slave and half free. You must give them all or take from them all. Until this half-and-half condition is ended, there will be just ground of complaint... Until the colored man's pathway to the American ballot box, North and South, shall be as smooth and safe as the same is for the white citizen, this discussion will go on..." Bound in a light blue cover.

GLC06116

1845

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Book

Title: Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave : written by himself.

First edition of Douglass's first autobiography. Contains an engraving of Douglass opposite title page. Published at the anti-slavery office.

GLC06117

8 June 1890

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to May Delany

To "the daughter of the daughter of my friend who sheltered me forty and five years ago, when I was a man without a country, a stranger and or sojourner, with little money and few friends, shall now have my autograph. No effort of memory is required to recall the welcome visit of yourself and your precious mother at that dingy hotel overlooking the Thames...." Hopes to meet up with Delany later in the summer, if she passes through Washington D.C. (Douglass had a home in D.C. called "Cedar Hill"). Writes, "I have grown somewhat old in this fierce tropical climate but I am still quite wide…

GLC05906

27 August 1884

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amy Post

Douglass writes to Post, a New York abolitionist and suffragist. Had been to Post's home in Rochester, and regretted her absence. Relates that he and Helen, his wife (they married in January 1884) had for their honeymoon traveled through Chicago, Montreal, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, among other locations without "a single repulse or insult in all the journey." Expresses annoyance with the letters and questions regarding his wife's age, their difference in race (Pitts was white), how their friends and family feel, and other topics pertaining to the marriage. Notes that they are…

GLC05819

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

1846

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Book

Title: The narrative of Frederick Douglass, an American slave. Written by himself.

Third English edition. Contains a frontispiece print of Douglass. Printed by Joseph Barker. Includes a preface to the second Dublin edition, preface to the first American edition, and a letter from Wendell Phillips (22 April 1845). Narrative is followed by an appendix and "American Slavery," a "Report of a public meeting held at Finsbury Chapel, Moorfields, to receive Frederick Douglass" (22 May 1846). Last pages contain information on the American Anti-Slavery Society for the "Friends of the Slave."

GLC05117

29 April 1870

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

"The wife of Captain John Brown and I believe a daughter are now living on a farm somewhere in California."

GLC07236

12 November 1883

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. S. Conant

Douglass writes to Conant, Editor of Harper's Weekly. Because of other engagements, he may have trouble writing an article for Harper's immediately. Intends to send the article within the course of a fortnight.

GLC07483.01

24 March 1894

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin Auld

Thanks Auld for helping him obtain the date when Auld's father, Hugh, began the ship building firm where Douglass served in Baltimore. Asserts that Hugh may have begun the business as early as 1827, and he (Douglass) may have been eight years old in 1825 when he came to Baltimore to look after Benjamin's brother Thomas. Estimated the date based on the death of Captain Aaron Anthony, his early master. Recalls his service to the Aulds in Baltimore, carrying water and Hugh's dinners. Writes, "The principle thing I desired in making the inquiries I have of you was to get some idea of my exact…

GLC07484.01

February 24, 1882

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Miss Lena

Thanks Lena, a young girl, for a potholder (GLC07731.02). Apparently Lena had read Douglass's narrative, and he thanks her for reading and thinking kindly of his life and history. Writes "Please accept my best thanks for 'Any holder but a slaveholder.'" Accompanied by a blank sheet of paper of the same size, possibly formerly attached to the note.

GLC07731.01

1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Engraving

Title: The Finding of Moses

Signed by Frederick Douglass.

GLC07821

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

1865

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Pamphlet

Title: The equality of men before the law, claimed and defended in speeches...

Title continued: "by Hon. William D. Kelley, Wendell Phillips and Frederick Douglass." Lacks original wrappers, stab-stitched. Douglass' speech was made to the annual Anti-Slavery Convention. Blockson Collection 2779. Schomburg 324.15-K. USE WITH CARE.

GLC06831

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

15 November 1880

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to N. C. Corbin

Douglass, serving as a United States Marshal, replies to a letter from Colonel Corbin sent 12 November 1880. Corbin invited Douglass to serve on Inaugural Ceremony committees (for the inauguration of President James Garfield, to be held 4 March 1881). Corbin informed Douglass that the ceremonies will require reception, military encampment, music, recreation, and other committees. Douglass declines, stating that because of custom requiring U.S. Marshals to serve a prominent role in the ceremonies, he will wait until he is assigned a role by those in charge. Written on United States Marshal…

GLC05717

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

circa 23 August 1876

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to T. R. H. Johnson

No year cited, but preliminary research suggests the year of publication. Thanks Johnson, editor of The Monthly Elevator, for a bound volume recently sent. Remarks that the Elevator, an African American journal, is "laying the foundation of a literature which will in time reflect credit upon our long oppressed and benighted people." A pencil note at the top states, "An Encouraging word from Hon. Frederick Douglass." Enveloped addressed to Johnson in Washington, Pennsylvania. Includes a three cent stamp.

GLC05312

9 April 1891

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Franklin Auld

Thanks Auld for "an elegantly bound and finely illustrated volume containing a biographical history" of the Baltimore police. Recalls his boyhood days and many pleasant memories with the Auld family. Written on Cedar Hill, Anacostia, D.C. stationery.

GLC07484.02

4 October 1857

Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895

Letter

Title: to Hugh Auld

Douglass writes to his former master after twenty years, admitting that he has often wanted to hold correspondence with Auld. Inquires after the Auld children, who are dear to Douglass: "...I feel nothing but kindness for you all- I love you, but hate Slavery." Asks Auld what year he came to live with the Auld family (the same year a frigate was built by Mr. Beacham). Inquires as to the date of his birth. Mentions seeing Amanda (daughter of Thomas and Lucretia Auld) and that he would like to see other members of the Auld family. Writes, "I could have lived with you during life in freedom…

GLC07484.06