Frederick Douglass papers
Biographical/Historical
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was a prominent 19th century activist, orator, journalist, author, and diplomat. Born in slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, he escaped to Massachusetts via New York City in 1838. He began his career as a lecturer for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. His 1845 autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, described his childhood, family, escape North and early abolition work. He would go on to write two more autobiographies, and countless speeches and essays, despite his lack of a formal education. He was an avid correspondent, catching up with family members, discussing politics with other activists, and replying to requests for his speaking skills. Douglass was married twice; first to Anna Murray in 1838. He and Anna had five children, including two sons who fought in the Civil War. Two years after Anna’s death in 1882, Douglass married Helen Pitts, a white woman twenty years his junior. The married caused controversy in both families. In 1847, Douglass and his family moved to Rochester, NY where he started his first newspaper, the North Star. The North Star's motto was "Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren." A year later he was the only African American to attend the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women's rights convention. After the start of the Civil War, he worked to recruit African-American soldiers into the Union army. In 1872, after twenty-five years in Rochester, Douglass’s house burned, and he moved to Washington D.C., where he took on a number of government positions, including consul-general to the Republic of Haiti and Chargé d'affaires for Santo Domingo. He continued to crusade for the rights of African-Americans and women until his death in 1895.
Scope and Contents
The Frederick Douglass papers, 1846-2019, consists of correspondence and other material by and about Douglass. The bulk of the collection is correspondence written by Douglass, beginning with an 1846 letter written from his first trip to the United Kingdom. The collections contains letters written to correspondents including Theodore Tilton, Amy Post, Samuel J. May, Lewis Tappan, Lydia Maria Child, Johnson Mundy and Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett. Some letters are very detailed and others are cursory responses to requests for Douglass’s time or money. Most are written from Rochester or Washington, D.C. The collection also includes a variety of images of Douglass, including photographs and printed images, both contemporary and modern. The bulk of the collection consists of material created during Douglass’s lifetime, but there is also a growing amount of material from late 20th century celebrations of his life and work.
Creator
- Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 (Person)
Dates
- Creation: 1846-2024
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1846-1895
Language of Materials
English
Extent
0.69 cubic feet
Access
The Frederick Douglass papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.edu
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired through the generosity of multiple endowments over multiple years, including the Friends of the University of Rochester Libraries, Robert Metzdorf, and the Special Collections endowment.
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], Frederick Douglass Papers, A.D74, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Arrangement
The records have been arranged in 5 series, all have subsequent subseries. Material within each series have been arranged in in chronological order.
Series I: Correspondence, undated, 1846-1895
Series II: Legal Documents
Subseries I: Document signed by Douglass as U.S. Marshal
Subseries II: Documents signed by Douglass as Recorder of Deeds
Series III: Images
Subseries I: Photographs
Subseries II: Prints
Subseries III: Oversize Prints
Series IV: Ephemera
Subseries I: Print Ephemera
Subseries II: Oversize Print Ephemera
Subseries III: Three-Dimensional Ephemera
Genre / Form
Occupation
Topical
Accruals
Accruals to the collection are expected throughout the year.
Separated Materials
Two books have been physically removed from this collection and catalogued.
The works of Robert Burns: with an account of his life, and criticism on his writings. and
Sentiment album by Mary Curtis Fish.
Subject
- Porter, Samuel Drummond, 1808-1881 (Person)
- Parker, Jenny Marsh, 1836-1913 (Person)
- Post, Isaac, 1798-1872 (Person)
- Post, Amy Kirby, 1802-1889 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Frederick Douglass papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Autumn Haag
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2016-12: EAD revision
- 2023-06: Updated to include substantial accruals to the collection
Library Details
Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library