We typically think of February 14 as Valentine鈥檚 Day, but there鈥檚 another reason to love the day鈥擣rederick Douglass celebrated his birthday on that date. It is now observed annually as Douglass Day. The first Douglass Day was commemorated in 1897, just two years after Frederick Douglass鈥檚 death, by the District of Columbia Schools at the urging of board member Mary Church Terrell.
The Library of Congress includes a . They relate to his life during and after the Civil War. Most of his earlier personal papers were destroyed in a fire in 1872. The collection of papers also contains correspondence related to Douglass鈥檚 work as a writer, editor, orator, public servant in various appointed positions after the Civil War, and commissioner of the Haitian Pavilion at the 1893 World鈥檚 Columbian Exposition. The private side of Douglass鈥檚 life is illustrated by his correspondence with family and personal friends.
On Douglass Day, the Library of Congress By the People project will launch a Douglass transcription campaign at . Participants will be invited to transcribe the General Correspondence series of Frederick Douglass’s papers. This series offers transcribers the opportunity to delve into Douglass鈥檚 personal and public life. As with the correspondence in most collections of personal papers, the General Correspondence series consists primarily of letters written to him, but some drafts and copies of his outgoing mail are also included. Douglass received letters from notable abolitionists, reformers, and activists, such as Ida B. Wells, Susan B. Anthony, and William Lloyd Garrison.
Learn even more from the “.”
If you are incorporating Douglass and his works in your classroom, visit this post on teaching Frederick Douglass鈥檚 autobiography or this one on African American manuscripts.
Want to learn more about the transcription process? Learn more by viewing this archived webinar on “.”
Photograph of Frederick Douglass in 1890; Credit: Mathew Brady Studio. “.” C. 1890.
African-American Perspectives: The Progress of a People, Library of Congress.
Curious about the 起点传媒and Library of Congress connection? Through a grant announced by 起点传媒Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick, 起点传媒is engaged in ongoing work with the Library of Congress and “will connect the ELA community with the Library of Congress to expand the use of primary sources in teaching.” Stay tuned for more throughout the year!
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Lisa Fink is an 起点传媒staff member, a former elementary teacher, and a current university instructor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She can be reached on Twitter .