Manuscripts Relating to Slavery

: November 1851; List titled "November 1851," including Elizabeth Finn, George Dana, George Bothamly, William Underwood & Co., J.P. Polion Dubuc, Joseph Russell, Stratton, Sheriff & Co., Albany Block [residential building], and ca. 40 others.

: [List of names associated with the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society]; Alphabetical list of ca. 530 names associated with the American Anti-Slavery Society.

: Resolves relating to Slavery & the Slave Trade & the admission of new States into the Union.; Resolution produced by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that the United States Congress must abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Includes note that the "resolves were passed by the House in the 21st, & by the Senate of the 23 March" and that the resolutions are the same that are referred to in the letters of E. Jackson and R. C. Winthrop.

: [Advertisement for Mathew Carey's testimony of the Colonization Society]; Two-page printed advertisement by Mathew Carey of Philadelphia, promoting this written testimony on the Colonization Society and its activities in Liberia.

: [Anti-slavery resolutions]; Unsigned and undated anti-slavery resolutions.

: List of 108 names to petition for use of Faneuil Hall; Signed petition of 108 names for the use of Feneuil Hall [Boston, Massachusetts] in January 1839 for a gathering [probably for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society].

: Copy of a correspondence between Edmund Jackson & Hon. Robt. C. Winthrop in 1840; Manuscript copy of a correspondence between Edmund Jackson and Hon. Robert C. Winthorp, in which Jackson asks for Winthorp's position on slavery before his election to United States Congress. Includes Winthorp's response dated November 2, 1840, in which he replies that he "cannot regard it as desirable or expedient to attempt any alteration of the Constitution in relation to slavery."

: [List of names associated with the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society]; Document of 4 sheets listing ca. 470 names from Rhode Island, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, and Maine who attended business meetings at the Concert Hall, 406 Broadway, Boston.

: Circular; Printed circular by Elizur Wright, Jr., Secretary of the Anti-Texas Committee, asking Massachusetts citizens to collect signatures for petitions against the admittance of Texas into the Union as a Slave state. On back, list of ca. 40 names of participants.

: [Two resolutions condemning the "system of slavery"]; Two unsigned and undated resolutions on one page [from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society] condemning the "system of slavery."

: Petition to Gov. to fill the office of Agt. For Col'd Seamen; Petition [from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society] to Massachusetts Governor Marcus Morton to appoint Amos B. Merrill to act as an agent for "colored seamen" in the ports of Charleston [South Carolina] and New Orleans [Louisiana].

: Resolutions of the World's Convention; Printed resolution from the General Anti-Slavery Convention, held in London between June 12 and June 23 in London, by the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-slavery Society [later the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society] condeming the slave trade. Signed by Society President Thomas Clarkson.

: [Petition letter in opposition to the American Colonization Society]; Petition denying support for the American Colonization Society, signed by William Wilberforce and 12 others in London, 1833.

: West India Emancipation; Manuscript letter in the hand of Wiliam Lloyd Garrison, for publication to advertise a "mass celebration" of the anniversary of the emanciaption of 800,000 slaves to the West India Islands [undated, but probably 1846]. On back in red, "Insert this evening - Wednesday morning - Thursday morning and evening." Addressed to Mr. R. F. Wallent, Antislavery Office, Boston.

: October 1857; List titled "October 1857," listing Harriet C. Capen, Robert Briggs, Thomas C. Wales, Stimpson & Whiting, James W. Bates, Russell, Hennesey & Phelps, Willis & Co., Witherbee [Wetherbee] Bro., J. P. Polion Dubuc, Joel Brett, Jos. [Joseph] Russell, Jonathan, Cottle, David Kimball, Thomas E. Lillie, Duncan Cameron, Holmes Holden & Catler. Mrs. Phelan, Albany Block [residential building] and ca. 50 others.

: Recommendation to Gov. Morton to fill office and signers; Recommendation for Massachusetts Governor Marcus Morton to appoint Amos B. Merrill of Boston to the position of agent under the "resolves relating to the imprisonment of citizens of this commonwealth in other states" of March 24, 1843. List of twelve names in pencil on verso, many only first and last initial.

: Mayor & Aldermen, Fanueil Hall, Refused; Letter to the Mayor [Samuel Atkins Eliot] and Aldermen of Boston [Massachusetts] from Francis Jackson and 11 other committee members [of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society] arguing a recent denial for permission to use Faneuil Hall for a meeting about slave trade in the District of Columbia.

: Poetry, 1843. Weymouth. Bard Adlington.; Two-page manuscript poem about the abolishment of slavery. Docket reads, "Poetry, 1843. Weymouth. Bard Aldlington."

: Donations to the Liberator in 1839; Two-page list of donors to the Liberator in 1839. Also includes donations made in January 1840 and "amounts loaned to Liberator committee." The list of donors includes William Rotch, Andrew Robeson, the Pawtucket Anti-Slavery Society, William Bassett, the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, Mary Ann Russell, Isaac Winslow, [Samuel] Fessenden, Joseph Southwick, Ellis Gray Loring, Samuel Philbrick, Samuel Rodman, Joseph Southwick, Christopher Robinson and others.

: The Lawyers Remonstrance for Judge Loring; Undated 13-page list of ca. 1,200 names [probably asking for the removal of Judge Edward G. Loring from office].

: For the Baltimore American. The Danville Review.; Manuscript letter by Robert Breckenridge [of Lexington, Kentucky] for publication in the Baltimore American, appealing to readers to send in monetary support and subscriptions to the Danville Review in order that the publication be able to continue operation after many of its officers became supporters of the confederacy.

: The undersigned hereby agree to take the number of slaves let against their names respectively, upon the foregoing terms & conditions; List of 24 Massachusetts citizens who agreed to take slaves "let against their names." Includes the number of slaves for each person. On back, a proposition for the erection of a "spacious hall in which free decision may be had," with subscription details.

: April 1847; List titled "April 1847," including Richard Hildreth, Harriet C. Capen, J. & E. Bales, G. C. Leach, Paul Morrill, Edward Rohan, J. K. Blasdell, Artemas White, Willis & Co., Ellis G. Loring, Wetherbee Brothers, Joel Brett, Thacher Beal, Hiram Davis, Jacob Berkmaer, Charles N. Chandler, Sundry tenants [of] 45 Congress St. and ca. 65 others.

: [Letter from Arthur G. Homer to Francis Jackson]; Letter from Arthur G. Homer, of New York City, to Francis Jackson asking for funds to help purchase two slaves belonging to a Williamsburg, Virginia, planter William Havis. They are the wife and child of a free black residing in New York, who has already procured several hundred dollars to buy their freedom.

: Persons to whom we sent the Texas Circular; List of 60 names of persons who were sent copies of "the Texas Circular" in 1945 [by the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society].

: December 1846; List titled "December 1846," including John Hanson, J. K. Blaisdell, Tenants [of] 45 Congress St, Sylvester Phelps, Earl W. Johnson, Olive Hanson, James Bullard, Benjamin Jones, Hugh McCabe, Nelson Smith, Patrick Rogers, William A. Howard and ca. 25 others.

: Town Book for Castletown For the Entry of Black Children, 1799-1827; Birth records and deeds of manumission for African American children in the town of Castleton, Staten Island, N.Y. between 1799 and 1827.

: Proslavery names in 1835; Alphabetical list of ca. 1100 proslavery names from 1835.

: [Anti-slavery resolution]; Unsigned and undated anti-slavery resolution.

: New-York Manumission Society records, 1785-1849; New-York Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves (1785-1849), commonly known as the New-York Manumission Society, was established to publicly promote the abolition of slavery and manumission of slaves in New York State. The society provided legal and financial assistance to manumitted slaves in need of protection, slaves seeking manumission and supported legislation and efforts to enforce laws banning the sale of slaves in New York State. The records include meeting minutes, commission reports, financial records, indentures, and registers from the year of its organization to its dissolution in 1849. Subjects covered include appointments, elections, political activities, finances, reports on individual cases, the sponsorship and operation of the African Free School and African American houses of refuge. Among its active members were: Robert C. Cornell, W. W. Woolsey, Nehemiah Allen, Melancton Smith, William T. Slocum, Samuel Bowne, Adrian Hegeman, Willet Seaman, Thomas Burling, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Duane, John Murray, Jr., William Dunlap, Alexander McDougall, Noah Webster, and Egbert Benson.

: May 1846; List of names titled "May 1846."

: A. S. Petition for the rights of the Col'd Citizen; Petition letter [from the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society] asking the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to protest in United States Supreme Court against the wrongful imprisonment of "colored citizens" employed on trade ships arriving at the ports of slaveholding states.

: [Letter from the friends of William Lloyd Garrison]; Unsigned manuscript letter from "the friends of William Lloyd Garrison," soliciting donations with which they hope to buy him a home. Names trustees Ellis Gray Loring, Francis Jackson and Samuel Philbrick.

: Escape of William Curtis and Samuel Glenn; Three-page account of the escape of slaves William Curtis and Samuel Glenn from plantations in Darien [Georgia].

: [Letter to the Editor of thePost arguing for the abolishment of slavery]; Unsigned and undated draft of a note addressed "to the Ed. Of the [] Post" arguing for the abolishment of slavery.

: Appeal to the Friends of the Slaves; Printed letter soliciting donations for the operation of the American Anti-Slavery Society, with names of donors to be printed in the Emancipator. Signed by Henry B. Stanton. Subsciption paper attached.

: Copy of Signers to Anti-Slavery Petition 1836; Copy of a petition signed by William Ellery Channing, Carleton William, and ca. 500 others.

: [List of attendees at Faneuil Hall assembly, October 14]; Invitation for "the citizens of Boston" to assemble October 14 [no year given] at Faneuil Hall to discuss the "condition of the Fugitive Slaves, and the colored persons of this city, under the new Fugitive Slave Law." Signed by Josiah Quincy, J. Ingersoll Bowditch, Waterston, Robert; Samuel May, Ezra Lincoln, William Foster, William S. Andrews, William E. Coffin, and Charles F. Hovey.

: [illegible] of May 29th at Cherden [Chardon?] Street, Boston, 1839; List of donors, most by name and some with their place of residence [probably to the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society] during a May 29, 1839 meeting at Charden [?] Street.

: [Roster of names related to military service under particular Captains]; 24-page roster of ca. 1,500 names of individuals who served under military Captains Seth Wilmarth, Isaac Hall Wright, Evans, Cass, Whorf, Granger [probably David Granger of Boston], McKenny, McCafferty, Young, Charles O. Rogers, Henshaw, Cooley, Upton, and Adams.

: [Receipt for carrying papers]; Receipt of payment for "carrying papers from 1 Jany. / 39 to 1 Jany. / 40" to F. Mann from the Liberation Office.

: Resolutions against 1838 Gag Law; resolutions agreed upon during a January 25, 1838, Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society meeting criticizing the Congressional Gag Law and slaveholding in general.

: [Letter for publication in the Maryland Colonization Journal]; Manuscript letter by W. McLain [M'Lain] addressed to the editors at the Colonization Rooms for publication [probably in the Maryland Colonization Journal] in Washington, D.C., asking that they print an acknowledgement for an anonymous donation.

: April 1850; List titled "April 1850," listing Richard Hildreth, Harriet C. Capen, Robert Briggs, Thomas C. Wales, Stimpson & Whiting, James Bales, James Bates, James Hennessey, Willis & Co., Witherbee [Wetherbee] Bro., Joel Brett, Smith & Swift; James L. Giles, Lawrence McArdle, David Kimball and ca. 50 others.

: New-York African Free School records, 1817-1832; These records cover the latter portion of the African Free-Schools' existence, ending two years before oversight for the schools was transferred to the Public School Society. They relate to classroom observation, student performance, behavior and promotions, as well as examples of lessons and student work. The records are in four volumes. The first includes regulations, by-laws, and reports, from 1817 to 1832. The regulations are for the format of the school's examination procedures, while the reports give numbers of students promoted for each quarter. These are limited to school No. 1. A substantial portion of the volume is also made up of observations of the visting committee, giving their impressions of the progress being made, along with the behavior and organization of the classroom and students. The second volume is also filled with reports and observations of the visiting committee, but these are limited to school No. 2, and cover 1820 to 1831. Added to the closing pages of the volume are several pages of lessons on adding, subtracting and division of money, with examples. The third volume includes extracts, compositions, addresses and pieces spoken at public examinations for 1818 to 1826, but early pages do include some material on promotions.The fourth volume complements the third with penmanship and drawing studies by the students (1816-1826). Of particular interest are copies of the speech given by James McCune Smith on the occasion of the Marquis de La Fayette's visit to New York in 1824.While there is little, if any, information on individuals in the first two volumes, attributions are often given for the material appearing in volumes three and four.

: [Letter from Edmund Quincy to J. Otis Williams]; Letter from Edmund Quincy to J. [] Williams, a librarian for the Public Library in Dedham [Massachusetts], in response to his request for volumes of literature produced by the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.

: [Resolutions in arguing for the abolishment of slavery]; Six pages of unsinged and undated drafts of resolutions in arguing for the abolishment of slavery.

: John Clarkson Manuscripts, August 6, 1791-August 4, 1792; John Clarkson (1764-1828) was an English abolitionist, agent for the Sierra Leone Company, and lieutenant in the British Royal Navy. The collection consists of Clarkson's manuscripts, written in journal form, of his involvement with the settlement of free African-American loyalists from Nova Scotia to Sierra Leone, Africa. The loyalists had been evacuated from New York when the British pulled out at the end of the Revolutionary War and initially settled in Nova Scotia. Vol. 1, entitled "Clarkson's Mission to America," covers Aug. 6, 1791-Mar. 18, 1792 as Clarkson arranged for the transportation of the settlers; it provides a detailed account of his activities in Nova Scotia, persons he met there, and the problems fitting out the ships (478 p.). Vol. 2, entitled "Clarksons Mission to Africa," covers Mar. 19, 1792-Aug. 4, 1792. Clarkson's account of the founding and first months of Free Town, Sierra Leone gives numerous details of the difficulties met, relations with the native population, attitudes of the Nova Scotia settlers, and supplies (422 p.).

: Middlesex Elections. Repe. To Congress; Tabulations from an official election [possibly senatorial] of Middlesex County [Massachusetts], listing votes by town.

: Journal of a voyage among the West India Islands,1839 Nov. 11-1840 Apr. 20.; Mahlon Day (1790-1854) was a Quaker, publisher of children's books, printer, and bookseller in New York City. This is a contemporary copy of a diary kept by Day while on a tour of the West Indies (Nov. 1839-Apr. 1840) in the company of Joseph John Gurney, the English Quaker philanthropist, minister, and writer. In most of the places they visited, they did considerable sightseeing, held religious services for all faiths, and were entertained by many residents. They were particularly interested in education, religion, and the condition of the Black population, especially on the free islands as compared to those that still permitted slavery. Day also includes many rhymes composed by Gurney to commemorate particular occasions. Persons whom they visited include: Sir W.M.B.G. Colebrooke and Nathaniel Gilbert of Antigua, and John and Maria Candler of Jamaica.

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