Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality

Book Breaks

Book Breaks is a free weekly public program where hosts interview scholars about their new books.

• Force and Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence by Kellie Carter Jackson, Wellesley College
• Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David Blight, Yale University
• Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln by Lucas E. Morel, Washington and Lee University, and Jonathan W. White, Christopher Newport University

Inside the Vault

Each month, Inside the Vault highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection.

• Frederick Douglass Documents with David Blight, Yale University
• Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality with educator Mandel Holland and Hamilton cast member Marcus John 

History U Courses

History U offers free, self-paced courses for high school students.

• The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass with David Blight, Yale University
• Lives of the Enslaved with Daina Ramey Berry, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Origins of the Civil War with James Oakes, City University of New York

Self-Paced Courses

Self-Paced Courses offer graduate-level online instruction in American history by eminent historians. Courses are available to watch or listen to on your own time and at your own pace.

• Black Writers in American History with John Stauffer, Harvard University
• Emancipation with James Oakes, City University of New York
• The History of Anti-Slavery Writings with James Basker, Barnard College and the Gilder Lehrman Institute
• The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass with David Blight, Yale University 

History Now

History Now, the online journal of the Gilder Lehrman Institute, offers the latest in historical scholarship to K−12 teachers, students, and general readers. Below is a selection of issues of History Now and individual essays related to this exhibition.

Full Issues

• History Now 50 (Winter 2018) “Frederick Douglass at 200”

Essays

• “Abolition and Antebellum Reform” by Ronald G. Walters (History Now 5, “Abolition,” Fall 2005)
• “Allies for Emancipation? Black Abolitionists and Abraham Lincoln” by Manisha Sinha (History Now 18, “Abraham Lincoln in His Time and Ours,” Winter 2008)
• “Douglass and the US Constitution: The Dred Scott Decision” by Randall Kennedy (History Now 57, “Black Voices in American Historiography,” Summer 2020)
• “Frederick Douglass and the Dawn of Reconstruction” by Douglas R. Egerton (History Now 55, “Examining Reconstruction,” Fall 2019)
• “Frederick Douglass on the Disfranchisement of Blacks in the South” by Lucas Morel (History Now 57, “Black Voices in American Historiography,” Summer 2020)
• “Frederick Douglass: An Example for the Twenty-First Century” by Noelle N. Trent (History Now 57, “Black Voices in American Historiography,” Summer 2020)

Other Essays

• “‘Hidden Practices’: Frederick Douglass on Segregation and Black Achievement, 1887” by Edward L. Ayers, Richmond University
• “Admiration and Ambivalence: Frederick Douglass and John Brown” by David W. Blight, Yale University
• “‘The Merits of This Fearful Conflict’: Douglass on the Causes of the Civil War” by David W. Blight, Yale University
• “‘Your Late Lamented Husband’: A Letter from Frederick Douglass to Mary Todd Lincoln” by David W. Blight, Yale University
• “‘Half Slave, Half Free’: Lincoln and the ‘House Divided’” by Gabor S. Boritt, Gettysburg College
• “Slavery and Anti-Slavery” by David Brion Davis, Yale University
• “Frederick Douglass: From Slavery to Freedom” by Steven Mintz, University of Texas at Austin
• “Douglass and Lincoln: A Convergence” by James Oakes, The Graduate Center, CUNY
• “African Americans and Emancipation” by Manish Sinha, University of Connecticut

Spotlights on Primary Sources

Each Spotlight on a document from the Gilder Lehrman Collection provides explanatory text, a transcript, and an image of the featured document

• Buying Frederick Douglass’s freedom, 1846
• “I love you but hate slavery”: Frederick Douglass to his former owner, Hugh Auld, ca. 1860
• Racism in the North: Frederick Douglass on “a vulgar and senseless prejudice,” 1870
• Frederick Douglass on Jim Crow, 1887
• Frederick Douglass on the disfranchisement of Black voters, 1888

Middle and High School

• Emancipation and Juneteenth, 1862–1865
• Fighting Jim Crow: Douglass, Washington, and Du Bois, 1887–1906
• Frederick Douglass: What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Short Takes

• American Antislavery Writings: Colonial Beginnings to Emancipation by James Basker, Barnard College, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute - 5 minutes
• Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln by David Blight, Yale University - 3 minutes
• Frederick Douglass on Lincoln and Reconstruction by Matthew Pinsker, Dickinson College - 2 minutes
• The Importance of Frederick Douglass by David Blight, Yale University - 3 minutes

Full Lectures

• African American Abolitionists with Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Harvard University - 1 hour
• The History of Race Relations in America: African American Experiences, 1492–1877 with David Blight, Yale University; Kellie Carter Jackson, Wellesley College; and Manisha Sinha, Univeristy of Connecticut - 1 hour, 29 minutes
• Lincoln, Slavery, and Nineteenth-Century Abolition, by David Brion Davis, Yale University - 24 minutes 

What are the costs?
• To Rent: $495/four weeks for most exhibitions; $995/four weeks for Freedom: A History of the United States
• To Buy: Alexander Hamilton, Frederick Douglass, and World War I are available for $1,875. Becoming the US, Cold War, Declaration 1776, Immigration, Who Can Vote, and World War II are available for $1,950. Freedom: A History of US is available for $2,950. A wheeled travel case is available as a separate purchase for $500.

Do I need to pay sales tax?
State sales tax laws vary. You may be liable for sales taxes. The Gilder Lehrman Institute will contact you about your potential sales tax obligations.

How can I pay?
We can accept credit cards, checks, or purchase orders, but we cannot currently accept bank transfers.

Do you offer any discounts or grants?
Unfortunately, we cannot offer any discounts or grants at this time. We recommend Donors Choose for schools needing financial assistance to rent or purchase an exhibition.

How do you ship the exhibitions?
Exhibitions are shipped in wheeled cases measuring 15 x 15 x 40 inches and weighing approximately 90 pounds. FedEx handles all shipping. Once your exhibition has shipped, you will receive a tracking number.

How do I set up the exhibition?
We include detailed setup instructions with each rental. Please note that different exhibitions have slightly different setup instructions, so make sure you refer to the correct type of exhibition.

What happens if something breaks after I receive my exhibition?
We are always here to help you troubleshoot or order new parts. The venue will bear the costs of replacement parts due to venue error or excessive wear and tear.

How much does it cost to purchase this exhibition?
$1,875 for a copy of this exhibition for permanent use.

What materials are included in my exhibition purchase?
With your purchase, we order a brand new exhibition to send you. Each panel comes in its own zipped sleeve for storage and transport. You will also receive all the supplementary materials you would receive with a rental, including the Exhibition Guide and setup instructions.

What are the dimensions of the exhibition?
Six freestanding retractable panels, each 33" x 81", requiring a minimum of 15–18 running feet for display.

Does my purchased exhibition come with the travel/storage case?
The travel/storage case is a separate purchase. You can add a case for your exhibition for an additional $375 on the same menu where you bought the exhibition. All exhibitions can fit into one case except Freedom: A History of the US, which needs two.

Is shipping included in the purchase price?
Yes!

Can I purchase a “used” exhibition instead of a new one for a lower price?
Occasionally, a limited number of gently used exhibitions are available for purchase at a discounted price. For the current selection of gently used exhibitions, visit the shop. Exhibitions are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are sold as-is. 

How long will it take to receive my exhibition?
Once we receive payment, please allow 2 weeks to print and ship your new exhibition. Exhibition orders are not sent for printing until we receive payment in full.

How much does it cost to rent this exhibition?
$450

How long is the rental period?
4 weeks. Please let us know if you would like a longer booking period, and we will do our best to accommodate you! However, we cannot offer discounts for shortened booking periods.

How far in advance should I book my rental?
It is best to book 2–3 months before your desired rental date, but we can accept bookings up to a year in advance. Please note that we do not ship exhibitions until they have been paid in full, so keep this in mind when booking your exhibition.

What is included in my rental fee?
The rental cost is a flat fee that covers shipping, the exhibition, and supplemental materials. Extra charges will only occur if a venue damages an exhibition.

What are the dimensions of the exhibition?
Six freestanding retractable panels, each 33" x 81", requiring a minimum of 15–18 running feet for display.

Can I bring the exhibition to multiple venues during my rental period?
Exhibitions are limited to the location booked in the contract. While you’re free to move the exhibition to different buildings or rooms within your contracted location, we do not allow any circulation of the exhibition otherwise. If you need to feature an exhibition at various locations, we recommend purchasing it rather than renting it.

Can I reschedule my rental?
If your new rental dates are available, we will happily reschedule your rental, provided the exhibition has not already shipped to you.

How do I ship the exhibition back to you?
We’ll send you a FedEx label up to 10 days before the end of your display period and set up a pickup appointment for your exhibition return. Please remove any labels from the case before attaching the new one, and let our team know if there are any special instructions for FedEx.