Freedom For Everyone

In 1838, at the age of 20, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery in Baltimore, Maryland and traveled North in pursuit of his freedom. Douglass credits his wife, Anna Murray Douglass, with aiding him to freedom. Douglass lived in a state of fugitivity for eight years until he was purchased by Anna Henry Richardson, and immediately emancipated. He was one of the most celebrated abolitionists and social reformers of the 19th century—lending support to the causes of abolition and women’s suffrage.

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Frederick Douglass Portrait

Engraving from Men of Our Times, Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1868

 Frederick Douglass’s likeness was one of the most reproduced of the 19th century, with nearly 160 portraits and photographs. Of even more importance was Douglass’ belief in photography’s import. He believed that photography served as a conduit to create and reinforce positive images of Black manhood, especially to counter the disparaging stereotypes that white newspapers often perpetuated. He only wanted to be photographed in settings that displayed accomplishment, nobility, and power.

This bill of sale shows a transfer of the ownership of Douglass from Thomas Auld to his brother Hugh in 1845. The motivation for the Auld brothers to have legal documentation of Douglass’ ownership seems related to the publication of Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.

The brothers knew Douglass as Frederick Bailey. A note, written in pencil, on this bill of sale states, “or Douglas [sic] as he calls himself / as known by the name of Douglas [sic],” suggesting that the Aulds learned about Douglass’ whereabouts from his autobiography.

This item reinforces the chattel status that Black people occupied because of their enslavement.

Nearly 20 years after escaping from slavery, Frederick Douglass wrote a letter to his former enslaver, Hugh Auld. In an exceptional display of forgiveness Frederick Douglass penned to Auld:  “I love you, but hate slavery.”

Letter from Walter Lowrie to Hugh Auld, 1846

The publication of Douglass’ widely read autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, heightened his chances of being returned back to slavery. After living in a state of fugitivity for nearly seven years, Douglass called for support among abolitionist circles to aid him in procuring his freedom legally. Anna Richardson, a Quaker abolitionist, purchased Douglass in 1846 and immediately emancipated him. Walter Lowrie of New York brokered the transaction on behalf of Richardson.

Correspondence between Rev. Samuel H. Cox and Frederick Douglass

Office of the American Anti-Slavery Society: New York, 1846.

While on a speaking tour in Europe, Douglass attended the World’s Temperance Convention held in London. He delivered a speech about the atrocities of slavery, which denied Black people true freedom and the opportunity to be a part of the Convention meeting. Following the meeting, Rev. Cox, a self-proclaimed antislavery activist, called Douglass’ speech an “abomination” because of Douglass’ scathing critique of America. In response to Rev. Cox, Douglass reinforced his commitment to calling attention to slavery’s insidious legacy.

Correspondence between Helen Douglass and J.C. Shaffer, 1896

Helen Douglass, the second wife of Frederick Douglass, wrote to J.C. Shaffer, patron of Northwestern University and collector of slave memorabilia, concerning Shaffer’s interest in acquiring Douglass’ personal materials.

This collection is housed in the Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections and University Archives of Northwestern University Libraries.