antislavery movements

An address to the public, from the Pennsylvania Society for promoting ...

All men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain in...

Public domain scan of 18th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Boston, to Amos Augustus Phelps, Dec. 1...

In this letter to Amos A. Phelps, Samuel J. May discusses a few anti-slavery publications, including Phelps’s book, the second edition of which Mr. Knapp is willing to publish. He then discusses a variety of to... More

Five sermons by Theodore Parker, 1858 Jan[uary] 10 -Fe[bruary] 7

Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 10, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Matter." Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 17, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Man." Theodor... More

Letter from John Keep, Oberlin, Ohio, to William Lloyd Garrison, June ...

John Keep informs William Lloyd Garrison that he was "gratified" by the notice that Garrison was compiling a history of the abolitionist movement in America, exclaiming that it will be "a precious boon" to the ... More

Letter from Theodore Parker, Cambridge, [Massachusetts], to Abby Hoppe...

Theodore Parker writes to Abby Hopper Gibbons in regards to the death of her son, William. He writes, "But as sailors who suffer shipwreck only reach another harbor, not the one marked in their chart, but the i... More

Letter from Joseph Lupton, Leeds, [England], to Samuel May, November 1...

Lupton informs May that a box of articles for the Anti-Slavery Fair has been forwarded to Liverpool to be shipped to America. He wishes to be informed of its safe arrival and of which articles sold best. Lupton... More

Arrival from Maryland, 1859; Ann Maria Jackson and her seven children.

Public domain image of a train station in Boston, Massachusetts, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description

A picture of slavery, for youth.

Author's name appears on p. 26. Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.

Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Brooklyn, [Connecticut], to William Llo...

Samuel Joseph May writes to William Lloyd Garrison thanking him for sending "the present of 50 copies" of his Discourse and encouraging him to visit Brooklyn sometime during the month. He then discusses his new... More

Printed calling card, 38 Summer Street, Dorchester

This item contains an unidentified visiting card found among Samuel May Jr.’s letters. It announces the time and place of a meeting to be held in the unnamed sender’s home in Dorchester. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Letter from James Cropper, Liverpool, [England], to William Lloyd Garr...

James Cropper writes to William Lloyd Garrison after receiving a bound volume of the Liberator for 1833 and telling him that he had subscribed through Joseph Sturge to receive the Liberator regularly. He then p... More

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society expense account of A. A. Phelps fro...

An itemized expense account and receipt, signed by A. A. Phelps on August 13, 1838, and a note requesting that the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society pay J. E. Fuller or the bearer of the note $23 and charge th... More

Letter from William Abijah White, Watertown, [Mass.], to Maria Weston ...

Letter from John Rand, Milton, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, 1850 Fe...

John Rand writes to Samuel May describing the visit of Lucy Stone to Milford and a lecture she delivered in the town. Rand reports that Stone "found with us a cordial welcome" and was introduced to the meeting ... More

Five sermons by Theodore Parker, 1858 Jan[uary] 10 -Fe[bruary] 7

Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 10, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Matter." Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 17, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Man." Theodor... More

Letter from Edmonia Lewis, Rome, to Maria Weston Chapman, May 3'd, [18...

Letter from William Lloyd Garrison, Rockledge, [Roxbury, Mass.], to Fa...

Receipted bills to the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society from Amos Au...

The item includes two receipted bills. One is an $8.68 bill issued to Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society by Nathaniel Greene for letter postage, newspapers and boxes. An approval for the payment was signed on t... More

Letter from Joseph Lupton, Scarborough, Yorkshire, [England], to Samue...

Lupton says that he has shipped two boxes of contributions from Leeds for the anti-slavery fair. He gives a brief account of the contents of the boxes and speaks particularly of a screen. Lupton also informs Ma... More

Letter from Joshua Reed Giddings, Bangor, Maine, to William Lloyd Garr...

Letter from Oliver Johnson, [New York, N.Y.], to William Lloyd Garriso...

Oliver Johnson inquires if William Lloyd Garrison is quite certain that he had not been paid for one of his articles published in the Independent, as Johnson states that the accounting ledgers show that a check... More

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society expense account of A. A. Phelps for...

An itemized expense account, with the receipt signed by A.A. Phelps on April 10 1838, and three additional receipts: (1) for payment made by "New England Anti-Slavery Society" to “Dutton & Wentworth, Dr.” for a... More

Fourth of July.

Copy of letter from Amos Augustus Phelps, New York, to Rufus Anderson,...

A.A. Phelps writes to Rufus Anderson about the article Anderson published in the Missionary Herald, entitled “Extract from a communication of Doct. Hall to the Maryland Colonization Society.” Supplying informat... More

Letter from John Quincy Adams Edgell, West Newbury, to Amos Augustus P...

John Quincy Adams Edgell and G. B. Penny write to the pastor of the Free Church of Boston regarding a meeting to be held in the Centre Church regarding the installation of J. A. Martyn as pastor of the Centre C... More

Letter from Joseph Lupton, Scarborough, Yorkshire, [England], to Samue...

Lupton says that he has shipped two boxes of contributions from Leeds for the anti-slavery fair. He gives a brief account of the contents of the boxes and speaks particularly of a screen. Lupton also informs Ma... More

Letter from Thomas Hughes, Lincoln's Inn, 3 Old Square, London, to Wil...

Hughes writes Garrison to offer his congratuations & respects concerning Garrison's support of Abraham Lincoln's re-election, & denounces those within the American Abolition movement which have broken with Garr... More

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society expense account of A. A. Phelps for...

An itemized expense account, with the receipt signed by A.A. Phelps on April 10 1838, and three additional receipts: (1) for payment made by "New England Anti-Slavery Society" to “Dutton & Wentworth, Dr.” for a... More

Aaron Powell.

Picryl description: Public domain vintage artistic photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Escape with a lady, as her coachman, with master's horse and carriage.

Public domain image of horse carriage, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

The benevolent effects of abolishing the slave trade or the planter in...

Public domain photograph of portrait art print, 18th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Traversée : danse de nègres.

Public domain photograph of french trade card, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Letter from Sarah Moore Grimkè, Brookline, [Massachusetts], to Elizabe...

Sarah Moore Grimkè writes to Elizabeth Pease Nichol regarding the books and pamphlets she has sent her and her "English sisters." She discusses emancipation in the West Indies and the anti-slavery cause in Grea... More

Letter from John Rand, Milton, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, 1850 Fe...

John Rand writes to Samuel May describing the visit of Lucy Stone to Milford and a lecture she delivered in the town. Rand reports that Stone "found with us a cordial welcome" and was introduced to the meeting ... More

Letter from Susan Taber, New Bedford, [Massachusetts], to Deborah West...

[Susan Taber?] writes to Debora Weston in regards the anti-slavery society preparing materials for a sale to raise funds. She writes of her surprise for the news of Angelina E. Grimke's marriage to Theodore T. ... More

The separation of a family of slaves after being seized & sold upon a ...

Picryl description: Public domain image of ethnic group, people gathering, anthropology, colonies, exotic, indigenous people, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Treaty between Her Majesty and the United States of America for the su...

Picryl description: Public domain book about slavery, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

John Brown.

Picryl description: Public domain image from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, free to use, no copyright restrictions image. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Har... More

Letter from William Lloyd Garrison, Glasgow, [Scotland], to Henry Clar...

Letter from Joseph Lupton, Leeds, [England], to Samuel May, November 8...

Lupton informs May that he is sending a box of contributions for the Anti-Slavery Fair. He apologizes for its small size, saying that there are so many other charitable demands on the people of Leeds that the a... More

Letter from John Goings, New Bedford, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, ...

John Gorings writes to Samuel May reporting that they "had a very interesting meeting here on Sunday last and [a] very crowded house all day," however "a great many were disappointed in not hearing Miss [Sallie... More

Letter from James Miller M'Kim, Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], to Mary ...

James Miller McKim writes to Mary Anne Estlin in regards to his voyage back to the U.S. with Richard Davis Webb and of his time in New York before his return to Philadelphia. He writes of his editor of the "Pen... More

Anna E. Dickinson Papers: Miscellany, 1863-1951; Newspaper clippings; ...

Letter from Mary Brady, Leavy Greave, Sheffield, [England], to Maria W...

Letter from Samuel Joseph May, Syracuse, [N.Y.], to William Lloyd Garr...

Samuel Joseph May writes William Lloyd Garrison inviting him to the antislavery convention to take place on January 7-9, and requests that should Garrison be unable to attend that he assist May in persuading Ge... More

The mode of flogging slaves. As described in Bickells "West Indies as ...

Public domain scan - 18th-century print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Resurrection of Henry Box Brown.

Slaves chained together by the neck and driven to work on the roads. S...

Public domain photograph of American trade card, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Officers of the road; Samuel D. Burris, conductor.

Notes by Samuel May, [18--]

May's apparent draft of a eulogy for Charles Calistus Burleigh is written on the inside of two opened envelopes. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Letter from Edwin M. Gilbert, Columbia, to Amos Augustus Phelps, Decem...

In his letter to Amos A. Phelps, Edwin M. Gilbert expresses his approval of Phelps’s choice of profession in ministry. He relates some news around Lebanon, Conn. Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Letter from John Rand, Milton, [Massachusetts], to Samuel May, 1850 Fe...

John Rand writes to Samuel May describing the visit of Lucy Stone to Milford and a lecture she delivered in the town. Rand reports that Stone "found with us a cordial welcome" and was introduced to the meeting ... More

Letter from Charles Marriott, Hudson, N[ew] Y[ork], to William Lloyd G...

Charles Marriott writes to William Lloyd Garrison sending him ten dollars to pay for a number of Liberator subscriptions. He then comments on recent events like the Clerical Appeal as causing him "sadness & som... More

Letter from Charles Marriott, Hudson, N[ew] Y[ork], to William Lloyd G...

Charles Marriott writes to William Lloyd Garrison sending him ten dollars to pay for a number of Liberator subscriptions. He then comments on recent events like the Clerical Appeal as causing him "sadness & som... More

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society expense account of A. A. Phelps for...

An itemized expense account, with the receipt signed by A.A. Phelps on April 10 1838, and three additional receipts: (1) for payment made by "New England Anti-Slavery Society" to “Dutton & Wentworth, Dr.” for a... More

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society expense account of A. A. Phelps for...

An itemized expense account, with the receipt signed by A.A. Phelps on April 10 1838, and three additional receipts: (1) for payment made by "New England Anti-Slavery Society" to “Dutton & Wentworth, Dr.” for a... More

Letter from Mary Anne Rawson, Sheffield, [England], to William Lloyd G...

Mary Anne Rawson writes William Lloyd Garrison a few words concerning their recently-deceased mutual friend, George Thompson. Rawson states that despite her sense that "this poor earth seems the poorer" in Thom... More

Twenty-eight fugitives escaping from the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Two letters from Granville Sharp to Jacques-Pierre Brissot de Warville

A short sketch of the evidence delivered before a Committee of the Hou...

Letter from James Forten, Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania], to William Llo...

James Forten writes to William Lloyd Garrison discussing a work Garrison is about to publish (likely his "Thoughts on African Colonization"), sharing his hope that it "may be the means of opposing, in full, the... More

John C. Calhoun's speech to the United States Senate against the Compr...

Reproduction number: A20 (color slide; page 1) The famous South Carolinian John C. Calhoun (1782-1850) made his last Senate speech during the course of the great debate over the Compromise of 1850, a complicate... More

Five sermons by Theodore Parker, 1858 Jan[uary] 10 -Fe[bruary] 7

Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 10, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Matter." Theodore Parker writes a sermon on January 17, 1858 titled, "Evidences of God in the World of Man." Theodor... More

Letter from Elizabeth Swan Mawson, Ashfield, [England], to Francis Jac...

Elizabeth Swan Mawson writes Francis Jackson Garrison that the "proof copies" of photographs taken by H. S. Mendelssohn have arrived, and forwards these to Garrison for his review and pleasure. Mawson expresses... More

Letter from Sydney Howard Gay, New York, to Samuel May, June 17, '46

Gay acknowledges May's contribution to the American Anti-Slavery Society. He commends May's success in providing subscribers. He gives instructions concerning the forwarding of money, payment of postage, and ha... More

Letter from Jacon Merrill Manning, Boston, [Mass.] to William Lloyd Ga...

Jacob Merrill Manning notifies William Lloyd Garrison that he was visited that morning by a Mr. Hayward, a "gentleman connected with the Liberator", whom Manning gave his permission to list him among the speake... More

Letter from Joseph Cassey, Philad[elphi]a, [Pennsylvania], to William ...

Joseph Cassey writes to William Lloyd Garrison and Isaac Knapp "with much satisfaction" after seeing Arnold Buffum listed as the general agent for the Liberator in Pennsylvania in the last issue of the Liberato... More

Letter from Joseph Lupton, Scarborough, Yorkshire, [England], to Samue...

Lupton says that he has shipped two boxes of contributions from Leeds for the anti-slavery fair. He gives a brief account of the contents of the boxes and speaks particularly of a screen. Lupton also informs Ma... More

Slaves exposed for sale. See Bickells "West Indies as they are," page ...

Picryl description: Public domain image of ethnic group, people gathering, anthropology, colonies, exotic, indigenous people, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

John Henry Hill.

Samuel Green sentenced to the penitentiary for ten years for having a ...

Eminent anti-slavery men; William Lloyd Garrison.

John Brown, as he looked in 1857.

Picryl description: Public domain image from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, free to use, no copyright restrictions image. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Har... More

Husbands, wives, and families sold indiscriminately to different purch...

Public domain photograph of American trade card, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Two letters from Granville Sharp to Jacques-Pierre Brissot de Warville

The case of William L. Chaplin : being an appeal to all respecters of ...

Chaplin was arrested in Aug. 1850 for having "abducted, stolen, taken, and carried out from the city of Washington" two fugitive slaves. Additional charges were brought against him for assaulting his arrestors.... More

An address to the public, from the Pennsylvania Society for promoting ...

One hour of American slavery is fraught with more misery than ages of ...

Public domain scan of 18th-century drawing, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Proposals for publishing a weekly periodical in Washington City, to be...

Letter from Charles Marriott, Hudson, N[ew] Y[ork], to William Lloyd G...

Charles Marriott writes to William Lloyd Garrison sending him ten dollars to pay for a number of Liberator subscriptions. He then comments on recent events like the Clerical Appeal as causing him "sadness & som... More

The liberator. v.11:no.28(1841:July 9)

Journal of the times Courtesy of Boston Public Library

American pocket book

This item is a leather cover of a pocket book. Written on the front of the cover in gilded gold: "American pocket book, 1842." Courtesy of Boston Public Library

Letter from Ellen Craft, Ockham, [England], to John Bishop Estlin, 185...

Ellen Craft writes to John Bishop Estlin thanking him for advising that she get her baby vaccinated. She writes, "I had intended to have it done as soon as the weather was a little milder, but however, as you t... More

Correspondence, between the Hon. F. H. Elmore, one of the South Caroli...

Also available in digital form. LAC brd 2019-04-25 no edits (1 card) Copy 2: "Imperfect : title-page torn." "Gift of Henry Breckinridge Trustee, 1921." LAC brd 2019-04-25

Anna E. Dickinson Papers: Speeches and Writings File, 1868-1907; Plays...

Letter from John Levy, Lowell, [Massachusetts], to Maria Weston Chapma...

John Levy writes to Maria Weston Chapman in regards to having received word from Wendell Phillips that it would not be convenient for him to attend the celebration at Lowell (of the Middlesex County anti-slaver... More

Letter from Aaron Macy Powell, Ghent, [N.Y.], to William Lloyd Garriso...

Aaron Macy Powell informs William Lloyd Garrison that he and his family have enjoyed Fanny Garrison's visit, and writes that she bears characteristics of both of her parents. Powell writes that Fanny shares Gar... More

Letter from William Lloyd Garrison, Roxbury, [Mass.], to Oliver Johnso...

Picryl description: Public domain image of stamped postal envelope, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Letter from Susan Brownell Anthony, Anti-Slavery Office, New York, to ...

Letter from Charles E. Buell, Office of the New England Association fo...

The constitution of the American Anti-Slavery Society : with the Decla...

Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.

William Still; The underground railroad.

Death of Romulus Hall.

L. Maria Child.

Picryl description: Public domain image from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, free to use, no copyright restrictions image. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Har... More

What has the North to do with slavery ?

Harriet Tubman.

Picryl description: Public domain vintage artistic photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image.

Papers presented to the House of Commons, respecting the slave trade

Letter from Henry Egbert Benson, Providence, [Rhode Island], to Willia...

In this letter to William Lloyd Garrison, Henry Egbert Benson reports to Garrison that some new subscribers have not yet received their first copies of the Liberator and sends him money for another new subscrib... More

Letter from George William Benson, Providence, [Rhode Island], to Will...

George William Benson writes to William Lloyd Garrison informing him that he has "nothing new to communicate respecting the Canterbury affair" but he plans to travel there with Rev. Thomas Williams later in the... More