- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Ellery, William, Draft of Editorial Regarding his Views on Slavery and the Consequences of Emancipation, circa 1817
Collection Overview
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Scope and Contents
Consists of a heavily revised, four-page manuscript draft of an editorial by William Ellery (1727-1820), signed "A Friend to Man." Although undated, the draft is probably dated about 1817 and was likely written in response to the foundation of the American Colonization Society in 1816. Ellery, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a member of Congress from 1776 to 1786, came to favor the gradual emancipation of enslaved people. In the editorial, Ellery argues against a "sudden general emancipation" in the United States and the Caribbean, proposing that labor crises would ensue and have negative affects on both black and white Americans. Ellery also writes that he is not opposed to the resettlement of formerly enslaved African Americans in Africa, but expresses doubts about the economic viability of this plan. The draft ends with a discussion of old biblical justifications for slavery and a list of biblical quotations relating to bondage and the "curse of Canaan."
- Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by the name of the creator, with unattributed materials at the end.
Collection History
- Acquisition:
AM 2013-59
Purchased in January 2013 .
This accession was separated from the Princeton University Library Collection on Slavery in the Americas (C1210), formerly known as the Miscellaneous Slavery Collection, during 2017 reprocessing.
- Accruals
The collection is open and will continue to grow.
- Appraisal
No material was separated during processing.
- Processing Information
This collection was processed by Lisa Yankowitz during the summer and fall of 2010 . The finding aid was written by Lisa Yankowitz in January 2011 and is regularly updated with new acquisitions by Faith Charlton, Kelly Bolding, and Armando Suárez.
Access & Use
- Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use.
- Conditions Governing Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
- Credit this material:
Ellery, William, 1727-1820, Draft of Editorial Regarding his Views on Slavery and the Consequences of Emancipation; General Manuscripts Miscellaneous Collection, C0140, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- Firestone Library (mss): Box 61
Find More
- Existence and Location of Copies
Parts of this collection are available on microfilm, cataloged separately as RCPXM-7497696.
