Anti-Slavery Collection Manuscript and Ephemera Inventory
The Oberlin College Anti-slavery Collection at one time included the important
papers of many Oberlin College administration, faculty, and students. Since 1966
these have been held in the Oberlin College Archives, and the transfer of College
related documents (when discovered) continues today. However many
manuscripts, clippings, scrapbooks, artifacts, and signed books remain in the
Library’s Anti-slavery Special Collection. These often demonstrate how well
connected the early College was, and from what quarters came its support. Some
caution is warranted; numerous manuscript items have been added to the
Collection more recently, through the generosity of donors and occasional
selection. These add to the Collection’s teaching and display potential.
This list is intended to inventory mostly small items in the Collection that might
not receive full cataloging, but are interesting and accessible for study. These can
be found primarily in the records box shelfed as HT1162.A76, or as noted. This list
can be amended at any time.
Abolitionist associated materials (includes signed copies of printed books):
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Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince. Speech by Prince Albert to mark the
opening of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade, and for the
Civilization of Africa. London Exeter Hall, June 1st 1840 (with supplementary
materials from James Cummins Bookseller).
Bailey, Gamaliel. “The Ages of Gamaliel and Sally Bailey, his wife, with the ages of
their Children” (flat)
Bailey, Gamaliel. Goldfarb Papers relating to the papers of the Gamaliel Bailey
family (flat)
o Includes Joel Goldfarb’s research notes on note cards relating to Gamaliel
Bailey, collection correspondence and requests for research with
Gamaliel Bailey’s granddaughter and research institutions, a collection of
microfilm relating to Gamaliel Bailey, and additional writings and
research materials.
Barnes, Albert, An Inquiry into the Scriptural Views of Slavery, 326.973 B261
Brown, W.W., Clotel, autographed by the author, 326.973 B81c
Catlin, James. Letter, “A Dynamic Anti-Slavery Letter by James Catlin,
Abolitionist”, March 12, 1857
Clarkson, Thomas, History of the Rise, Progress, and Accomplishment of the
Abolition of the African Slave Trae by the British Parliament, inscribed to “Wm.
W. Patton, from Joseph Sturge per Lewis Tappan.” 326.1 C561.2
Foss, A.T., and E. Mathews, Facts for the Baptist Church, 326 F79
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Garrison, William Lloyd. Letter to John Key, July 11 1868
Garrison, William Lloyd. Letter, to Jacob ?, June 27, 1829
Garrison, William [secretary]. National Anti-Slavery Convention, Philadelphia
1833. Declaration of the Anti-Slavery Convention (first draft) in the hand of
William Lloyd Garrison. Includes also the printed declaration on silk (flat) and;
Harwell, Richard The Touchstone: William Lloyd Garrison and the Declaration of
the Anti-Slavery Convention, Philadelphia, 1833, Northampton: Smith College,
1970
Goodell, William. “Letters of the American Abolition Society”, vol. 1, 1840s1850s, 091.326 Am3 v.1
Goodell, William. “Letters of the American Abolition Society”, vol. 2, 1840s1850s, 091.326 Am3 v.2
Goodell, William. “Records of the Central Abolition Board”, containing meeting
notes and written accounts of the Board’s activities, 1850s, 091. 326 Am 3R
Leavitt, Joshua. Letter to sec. of Union Anti-Slavery Society (Samuel Hastings),
September 26 1834
Matlack, Lucius C., The History of the American Slavery and Methodism,
326.973 m42
Phillips, Wendell. Letter from New England Anti-Slavery Convention, May 13,
1839 with written quotation attributed to John Brown
Spooner, Lysander, The Unconstitutionality of Slavery, 1st edition 1845,
326 P191 v.25 no.4
Sturge, Joseph, and Thomas Harvey, The West Indies in 1837, autographed by
Sturge and also autographed by James Scoble, 917.29 St9
Stanton, Henry B. Letter, September 11, 1845
Sunderland, La Roy, The Testimony of God Against Slavery, 326.973 Su72T
Thompson, George. (1804-1878. Pardon from the state of Missouri for the
charge of “grand larceny (abolition)”, September 13, 1841 (flat)
The African Repository Files, used by William Lloyd Garrison to help write
Thoughts on African Colonization and bear his autograph and marginal
annotations. 326 Af83
[N.A.] “Abolitionism- its Doctrine,” homemade notebook explaining reasons for
abolitionism, possible notes for a speech or debate, Cadiz, Ohio, January 19
1839.
[N.A.] Petition for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia
Artwork, drawings
 Cartoon, the slave running from his master; and, the master running from his
slave 1861?
 Two 1838-39 albums by Lieutenant (later Admiral) RN George Goldsmith, with
over forty watercolors and pencil drawings showing the west coast of Africa.
Created during service on brig-sloop Childers, which was a part of the West
African Squadron, 1834-1838
Legal/Financial documents concerning slaves
 Bill of Sale by Alexander Rose for 3 slaves, March 28, 1781
 Bill of Sale by John Roberts for “one negro boy called Samuel”, February 8, 1808
 Bill of Sale for “a negro girl named Milly”, August 14, 1832
 Bill of Sale by J. Thomas Wells for “a negro man named Paul”, November 7, 1843
 Bill of Sale for “a negro slave named Sophia”, January 1, 1861
 Estate appraisal of Thomas Baker of Kentucky, for multiple slaves, 1857
 Estate appraisal of Adam Wilson of Kentucky, for three slaves: Lee, Jim, Chess,
1846
 Manumission papers from Maxwell Chambers freeing 18 of his slaves
 Manumission papers for Stephen Pottie, November 14, 1853 (includes object)
 Mortgage secured by two slaves, “Hannah, aged about twelve years, and Jonas, a
negro boy aged about thirteen years” to Solon Bartlett for the sum of six
hundred dollars, Louisiana, 1847.
 Barque Jones Archive : “A collection of original manuscripts retained by
lieutenant Edward Littlehales, Commander of H.H. Brig Dolphin, regarding the
seizure of the Barque Jones of New York as a suspected slaver in the port of St.
Helena. Including official “Seizor’s Case”, Certificate signed by Littlehales,
Testimony of Lieut. Murray, H.M. Dolphin’s mate, and other papers presented in
the admiralty court of Sierra Leone. Includes printout of Opinion in the case of
the Barque Jones. By N.G Upham. London: C. Whittingham, 1854.
Miscellaneous Newspapers
 The Evening Star, Saturday May 21, 1881, with article “A Stirring Period in the
History of Washington”, about Gamaliel Bailey and pro-slavery attacks of his
newspaper offices (flat)
 Lawrence Daily Journal, October 24, 1924, with article “The Rescue of Dr. Doy”
about violence in the Kansas-Nebraska territories in 1854. (flat)
 The Local Item vol. 2, no. 3, 4. Photocopies, with article “Political Aspects of the
Anti-Slavery Contest”, a lecture delivered by Professor W. G. Frost on January 13,
1887 (flat)
 The Rescuer, July 4 1859 (flat)
 Western Reserve Chronicle, August 28, 1850 (flat)
 Western Reserve Chronicle, October 23, 1850 (flat)
Scrapbooks
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Bliss, Philemon, “Letters on Slavery”, scrap book of letters published by Bliss in
various newspapers, including the Ohio Atlas, dated 1836-1839. Titles include
Southern excitement, slavery in Florida, and Fugitive Act. Notes on paper
wrappers by J.M. Byrne, to whom Bliss gave the scrap book. E449.B647 1894
Gage, Mrs. Delos Wilmot, civil war era scrapbook, clippings of newspaper articles
and poems and verses, some about war and soldiers
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Goodell, William (supposed compiler), “scrapbook containing clippings from
newspapers of 1855-57 relating to slavery”
Goodell, William (supposed compiler), “Scrapbook of the Colonization Press and
the Pro-Slavery Mobs, 1833, 1834, 1835, with other extras”
Johnson, Oliver, scrapbook on anti-slavery subjects. Contains autograph letters
also.
Myers, Jefferson, “Account of Jefferson M. Moyers from April 6th 1869 to April
6th 70 as left by himself”, clippings from 1850s-1860s, focus on voting results
from local (Richland County, Ohio) and national elections, as well as articles
concerning violence over slavery
Peck, Henry Everard, “Anti-Slavery Clippings”, containing clippings on antislavery subjects and debates over justifications for slavery, c.1820s-1830s,
091.326 P 33
Thompson, Anne, Album Orne belonging to Anne Thompson and her husband
George Thompson, (bulk 1830s-1840s). Featuring materials from George
Thompson’s career as a British representative in India, and from his involvement
in the anti-slavery movement, particularly surrounding the General Anti-Slavery
Convention of 1840. Also included are poems and drawings about India and
slavery, several by George Thompson, and entries from prominent abolitionists
and many later American women’s activists of the era.
Signatures and entries in the
Album Orne include:
o Bennet, George B.,
1776-? (signature)
o Chapman, Mrs.
(Maria Weston),
1806-1885 (note)
o Chesson, Amelia,
1833-1902 (note)
o Chesson, Frederick
William, 1833-1888
(note)
o Child, Lydia Maria,
1802-1888, (note)
o Colver (Colva?),
Nathaniel, 1794-1870
(note)
o Decle, Lionel, 18591907 (note)
o Drummond, J[ames]
(note)
o Garrison, William
Lloyd (signature and
poem)
o Hamlin, Henry B.
(note)
o Heywood, Elisabeth,
(poem)
o Hornblower, Jane
Elizabeth, 1787-1853
(2 poems)
o Knibb, William, 18031845(note)
o Lewes, Anagram
(note)
o Moore, G.M.
(signature)
o Mott, Lucretia, 17931880 (signature)
o Neall, Elizabeth J.,
(signature)
o Norton, Caroline,
1808-1877 (poem)
o O’Connell, Daniel,
1775-1847 (note)
o Poole, Lizzy, 18041877 (note)
o Prescod, Samuel J.,
1806-1843 (note)
o Pugh, Sarah, 18001884 (signature)
o Rogers, Nathaniel P.,
1794-1846 (note)
o Small, Elizabeth
(signature)
o Smith, James
McCune, 1813-1865
(note)
o Southwick, Abby,
(signature)
o Spofford, Jeremiah,
1787-1880 (note)
o Spray?, Richard,
(note)
o St. Clair, Alanson
(note)
o Stanton, Elizabeth
Cady, 1815-1902
(signature)
o Stanton, Henry
Brewster, 1805-1887
(signature)
o Starr, Meredith (note)
o Tappan, Lewis, 17881873 (signature)
o Taylor, W.C. (note)
o Thompson, George
(signature, poems)
o Whittier, John
Greenleaf, 1807-1892
(notes)
o Williams, John (note)
o Winslow, Isaac, 17871864 (signature)
o Winslow, Emily A.
(daughter of Isaac
Winslow) (signature)
Calling cards from the
funerals of Frederick and
Amelia Chesson, placed in
scrapbook March 1904
 Aganoor, P.
 Biggs, Caroline
Ashurst
 Biggs, Joseph
 Blind, Karl and
Mrs.
 Brough, Miss.
 Daniell, Philip
(Mrs.)
 Edwards,
Passmore
Mrs.)
 Fox, Mr.
Francis
William
 Hill, Frank H.
 Krocker, Mr.
and Mrs.
 Leveson, Mr.
Edward J.
 Matthews,
Valentine
 McMillian,
Mrs. and Miss.
 Moffatt, W.L.
(Mrs.)
 Pitel, Henry G.
 Quartermayne
, Frank
 Spokes, Lady
 Spokes, Peter
 Stevensen,
Lady
 Todd, Mr.
Charles
 Tolputt, Mr.
and Mrs. W.B.
 Whitlock, Mr.
and Miss.
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Whittaker,
T.M. (Mrs.)
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Young,
Frederick
[N.A.] 1850s-1860s, unknown compiler, newspapers articles concerning slavery,
in particular Christian anti-slavery reform
[N.A.] 1850s-1860s, unknown compiler, newspaper articles concerning slavery
Thome Manuscripts
 Replies to the English queries on slavery in the US, with deeds of manumission
by Arthur Thome, 1832
 Written draft of Emancipation in the West Indies: a six months' tour in Antigua,
Barbados, and Jamaica, in the year 1837. by Jas. A. Thome and J. Horace
Kimball. New York: American Anti-Slavery Society, 1838. (edited by Theodore
Dwight Weld with extensive marking-up in his hand). Includes:
o Emancipation in the West Indies, “Slavery and Freedom” and Intro“Explanation of terms used in the Narrative”
o Written draft of Emancipation in the West Indies; Antigua
o Written draft of Emancipation in the West Indies; Barbados
o Written draft of Emancipation in the West Indies; Jamaica
Compiled by Robert Bartels and Ed Vermue. Last updated December 2016.