From Bondage to New Bedford

Born into slavery in 1818 in Maryland, Douglass escaped and became a leading voice for the abolition of slavery and other important social issues of the mid-19th century.

Frederick Douglass
National Archives Identifier: 558770

Douglass started his journey north to free soil in 1837, eventually reaching New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1838. New Bedford, the home of many Quakers, was a hub for the abolitionist movement in the northeast United States. Beginning in the 1830s, an interracial coalition of abolitionists not only settled in the town, but also brought in leading speakers to discuss abolition, interracial marriage, and equal opportunity.

The Home of Nathan and Mary “Polly” Johnson, the first free home
Frederick Douglass lived in upon his arrival to New Bedford in 1838
National Archives Identifier: 63793661, page 32

New Bedford became a stop on the Underground Railroad for runaway enslaved people. The grueling but lucrative whaling industry, the central pillar of New Bedford’s economy, provided steady jobs for African American men. Some estimates suggest that by 1840, nearly 700 escaped enslaved people resided in New Bedford.

A fellow abolitionist and businessman, William C. Coffin, was so impressed with Douglass’ speaking ability that in 1841, he invited Douglass to Nantucket for an anti-slavery convention on behalf of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Coffin urged Douglass to make a formal speech discussing his own experiences in bondage and advocating for full abolition.

A Lighthouse in Nantucket
National Archives Identifier: 45709955

In Nantucket, Douglass stood before a room of hundreds of white people. At just 23 years of age on August 11, 1841, Douglass delivered an address to raucous acclaim. This singular moment kickstarted a lifetime of memorable and eloquent speeches. Douglass’ delivery moved the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to stand and ask the room, “Have we been listening to a thing, a piece of property, or a man?”

The audience passionately replied: “A man! A man!”

William Lloyd Garrison
National Archives Identifier: 530489

Soon thereafter, Garrison offered Douglass the opportunity to embark on a speaking circuit for the cause of abolition in the Northeast and Midwest. As an ambassador of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass quickly gained prominence for his impactful and heartfelt speeches.

His Story on the Run

In 1845, Douglass published his first autobiography titled The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. This book put many of the stories he told on the road to paper, including a detailed account of his enslavers and the places he had worked as an enslaved individual.

From his first speaking engagement to taking his speeches on tour, Douglass remained, in the eyes of the law, a “fugitive” slave. Under the Fugitive Slave Act, slave owners could issue a warrant or attempt to capture escaped slaves themselves, even in free regions of the U.S. like the state of Massachusetts. Douglass was still technically the property of a man named Hugh Auld.

Thus, not long after the publication of his book and to ease worries about his capture, Douglass traveled to England and Ireland. In 1846, a group of Quakers purchased his freedom.

The Fugitive Slave Act
National Archives Identifier: 44272943

On top of his amazing oratorical skills, Douglass was an avid writer who founded four newspapers during his lifetime. He began publishing the first, The North Star, soon after he returned from England, funding it by his success abroad. Douglass held a firm conviction that a Black-owned, Black-run press was critical in turning the tides of the country toward abolition. But The North Star focused on topics beyond abolition, including self-improvement, economic opportunities, and women’s rights.

Painting depicting Douglass working on The North Star by Jacob Lawrence, 1939
National Archives Identifier: 559101

Divided, but Determined

Douglass was very active in his advocacy campaigns during the Civil War. Not only did he continue his pursuit of abolition, but he also strongly urged Black men to fight for the cause of the Union, including his own son. Lewis Douglass fought with the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

Muster roll for the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
Lewis Douglass’ name is visible in the leftmost column, third from the bottom.

Records of the Adjutant General’s Office
Source: NARA’s Pieces of History blog

Douglass Detail
Source: NARA’s Pieces of History blog

A respected commentator on the matter of equal pay for Black soldiers, Douglass even met with President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The two met twice more before Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. Later on, he stated, “I was an ex-slave, identified with a despised race, and yet I was to meet the most exalted person in this great republic.'

Abraham Lincoln
National Archives Identifier: 528325

After the Civil War, Douglass and his family resided in Washington, D.C., where he took on several significant roles, including an appointment as United States Marshal for the District of Columbia. He was the first Black man to presume the role under President Rutherford B. Hayes. Later, he served as the U.S. Minister Resident and Consul General to Haiti. During this period, he continued to work tirelessly for civil rights in the District and the nation, advocating for African American education and suffrage, still shaping the post-war narrative of freedom and equality.