About Douglass' Circle

Rosetta Douglass Sprague

Daughter of Frederick Douglass, born June 24, 1839. In 1845, the Rochester Board of Education voted to close the public schools to black students. Rather than send his daughter to the all black school that the city set up, Douglass sent his daughter to a private school and eventually resorted to tutors for her, and her younger siblings', education. For an account of the school controversy see John W. Blassingame, ed. The Frederick Douglass Papers volume 2 1847-54 Yale University Press. New Haven. 1982. p. 534 (by Eric Horan)