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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Bearse, Austin (fl. 1880) Reminiscences of fugitive-slave days in Boston.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00267.154 Author/Creator: Bearse, Austin (fl. 1880) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Pamphlet Date: 1880 Pagination: 41 p. ; 23.4 x 14.7 cm. Order a Copy

Bearse, a Massachusetts native, served as a mate on many ships transporting slaves up and down the coast between 1818 and 1830. He shares his experiences from these days, showing great empathy for the slaves with whom he came into contact. Expresses his contempt for the institution of slavery and regrets that in his day, it was not discussed or interfered with. He now desires to tell his stories. Printed by Warren Richardson, Boston.

Bearse, Austin, fl. 1880

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