Jewels in the Crown: Abolitionism

The Injustice and Impolicy of the Slave Trade... New Haven, 1791

The Pulling Collection features notable books and pamphlets related to slavery and the Abolitionist Movement in the United States. Items on display include a sermon and speech by a son and grandson of theologian and minister Jonathan Edwards, advancing both moral and legal arguments against slavery. Edwards Jr. (1745-1801) was a particularly interesting figure, as a linguist who published on native American languages and opposed his noted father's slaveholding. Included are also a stirring address of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, urging vocal support for abolitionism. These and famous trial accounts contribute to a richly documented literature.

Jonathan Edwards, Jr. (1745-1801), The Injustice and Impolicy of the Slave Trade … New Haven, 1791.
Theodore Dwight (1764-1846), An Oration Spoken Before the Connecticut Society … Hartford, 1794.
The African Captives: Trial of the Prisoners of the Amistad … New York, 1839.
Matthew Franklin (1773-1815), Address of the American Convention for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery … Philadelphia, 1804.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), Free Speech. 1861.

   - Ryan Greenwood, Curator of Rare Books and Special Collections