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Antislavery in the United States 1776-1865:
A Pathfinder
Main Page | Antislavery | Biographical Sources | Libraries & Historical Societies | Timelines | The Underground Railroad
Libraries & Historical Societies
American Antiquarian Society - Worcester, Massachusetts
This closed-stack library is a great source for antislavery materials. Antislavery research at AAS can be conducted by using the Society’s collections of biographies, US and local histories, newspapers, manuscripts, almanacs, broadsides, and pamphlets.
One may search the AAS collection online using their catalog, but note that not all collections are in the online catalog. Please contact AAS for more information
about their collections. Please also view their policies on visiting the library.
Boston Public Library - Boston, Massachusetts
The BPL has the Anti-Slavery collection, which consists mostly of William Lloyd Garrison’s papers. This collection also has
various documents, books, and pamphlets, as well as the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society papers. The
Broadside Collection
contains broadsides regarding antislavery and the Fugitive Slave Law. The BPL also houses the collection
of Theodore Parker. This library
has a large amount of newspapers for the period and the subject. A large amount of books on the antislavery movement and the Underground Railroad
are also available at the BPL. One may check their online catalog but one should also contact the library for assistance, since most of their pre-1974 collection is not in the online catalog. A large amount of
the collections at the BPL do not circulate so be prepared to spend time at the library.
Connecticut Historical Society Museum and Library - Hartford, Connecticut
The Connecticut Historical Society has numerous autobiographies of former slaves, letters, manumission documents, antislavery posters,
military enlistment documents for enslaved soldiers, and other materials. See their African American Resources at the CHS page, their eMuseum, and search their Catalog for
sources relevant to Connecticut antislavery.
Historic Northampton Museum & Education Center - Northampton, Massachusetts
The Museum’s Reference Shelf contains a listing of Northampton history sources, including a listing of sources pertaining to slavery and the antislavery movement in Northampton. The site also has links to other sources and organizations relevant to Northampton history. Please contact the Museum for information regarding their
manuscript and pamphlet collections, and to make an appointment to view the collections.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One may search the Society’s Online Catalogs for items pertaining to slavery and
the antislavery movement in Pennsylvania. Also see the Society’s Online Collections page for collections pertaining to
the abolition and antislavery movements, including the Underground Railroad. The Society also maintains Abolition, Anti-Slavery, and The Underground Railroad,
an excellent educational guide for teachers, students, and anyone looking for some introductory topics in Pennsylvania’s antislavery activities.
James Birney Anti-Slavery Collection -
The Sheridan Libraries - Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore, Maryland
William Birney, son of abolitionist James Birney, donated to Johns Hopkins his father’s collection of antislavery pamphlets.
This page breaks down the collection by decade, and provides a PDF listing of the collection.
Library of Congress - Washington DC
The Library of Congress is the research library for American History.
The LOC possesses a wealth of secondary sources and primary sources pertaining to slavery, antislavery, and The Underground Railroad.
Check the Library Catalog for items available at the LOC. See
the Researchers page for information about using the LOC collections.
Maine Historical Society: The Brown Library - Portland, Maine
See the Search the Library Catalog page to locate items relevant to antislavery sentiments in Maine.
Maryland State Archives - Annapolis, Maryland
One may use either the Search the Archives,
The Study of the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland, or the
Beneath the Underground: The Flight to Freedom features to
locate resources. See the About the Archives page for info about visiting the MSA.
Massachusetts Historical Society Library - Boston, Massachusetts
This closed-stack library contains various books, broadsides, pamphlets, newspapers, photographs, and manuscripts pertaining to
slavery, the antislavery movement, as well as the Underground Railroad. One may view ABIGAL, the online catalog of the MHS. Not all materials are listed in ABIGAL, so please contact a reference librarian for further assistance. Please read the Visiting the Library page before going to MHS.
Nantucket Historical Association Research Library - Nantucket, Massachusetts
The NHA’s Research Library contains numerous manuscript collections that have sources relevant to
antislavery. Search the manuscript online catalog using the term “slavery.” Please note that the library
charges a fee to non-members for use of its collections.
The National Archives and Records Administration - Washington DC
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) contains various documents pertaining to slavery.
Their website includes the following resources:
Newton History Museum - Newton, Massachusetts
The Family
Papers collection contain sources on abolition and slavery. Some of the collection notes contains descriptions, others do not contain any descriptions. Please contact the
museum for more information and to make an appointment to view the collections.
Oberlin College Library Anti-Slavery Collection - Oberlin, Ohio
From its start in 1833, Oberlin supported the antislavery cause. The Anti-Slavery collection has about 2500 items, most of
which may be located in OBIS, the Library’s online catalog.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection - Cornell University - Ithaca, New York
The Cornell University Library Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections maintains this
collection of antislavery material. One may search or browse this website for digitized pamphlets.
Slavery and Antislavery Resources (George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections and Archives - Bowdoin College - Brunswick, Maine
This page highlights some of the primary resources available at the Bowdoin College George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives.
Southern Historical Collection at the Wilson Library - University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
One of the SHC’s subject strengths is slavery. Check the
Online Finding Aids for items about slavery, antislavery, and
runaway slaves. Please view the Information for Researchers page before visiting UNC.
| ©2004-2012 Tim Sheehan tim@historynut.info |
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