Douglass’ Monthly was published by Frederick Douglass, the noted abolitionist who was born into slavery, in Rochester, NY from August 1860 through August 1863.  It was preceded by Douglass’ weekly newspaper which began publication in 1847 as Northstar, with the name changed in 1850 to Frederick Douglass’ Paper.  When his publication reduced its frequency, Douglass explained that he could put his time to better use in traveling and speaking than he could by publishing every week and he also complained about his subscribers not paying up.  The Monthly’s price was a $1 per year for the 16-page paper.  A significant portion of Douglass’ initial and continuing support came from England.

Thirty-five issues of the “Monthly” plus a one-page “valedictory” were published over the three-year period, and 30 of them plus the “valedictory” are included here through the courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society and the Chicago Historical Society.

What makes Douglass’ Monthly especially interesting is its detailed coverage of events not covered to the same extent elsewhere in this collection.  Specific examples include: 

  • The complete text of President-elect Abraham Lincoln’s 1861 pre-inauguration speeches in Springfield, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Albany.
  • President Lincoln’s messages to Congress in December 1861 and 1862.
  • A positive attitude towards emigration of free blacks to Hayti (as it was spelled then), but a negative outlook on colonization in Africa (the return of free blacks to Africa).
  • Detailed coverage of General John C. Fremont’s Confiscation Act in Missouri (freeing the slaves there in 1861), which was countermanded by President Lincoln.
  • A record of escapes, auctions and other individual occurrences involving slaves, most of them taken from other named newspapers.
  • Active promotion of the use of “colored troops” in the Union Army.  In fact, in his valedictory published on August 16, 1863, Douglass states that:  “I discontinue my paper, because I can better serve my bleeding countrymen whose great opportunity has now come, by going South …to assist Adjutant General (Lorenzo) Thomas in the organization of colored troops…”

 

 

 

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