Abolition & Emancipation

Scope

This project brings together a strong group of papers from the Huntington Library of leading figures in the movement for the Abolition of Slavery. It covers material on the following key individuals:

• Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) whose prize winning essay against slavery in 1786 was a prelude to 50 years service in the cause of abolition throughout the world.
• Zachary Macaulay (1768-1838), Scottish philanthropist who devoted most of his life to the anti-slavery movement.
• William Lloyd Garrison (1805-1879). There are 12 letters which span the period 1843-1878. Correspondents include Susan B Anthony, Annie Fields, Elizabeth Pease and Thomas Clarkson.
• Harriet Martineau (1802-1876), political economist, author and a leading campaigner for the abolition of slavery and the rectification of other social injustices.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), novelist and anti-slavery campaigner.
• William Wilberforce (1759-1833). There are 91 letters and his Notes for Question re: Slavery – “questions to be asked before Parliament” of 1788. Many letters are to Matthew Montagu, a number to E H Locker and one or two to individuals such as Robert Southey and Sir William Scott.