< NYHISTORY.ORG
EmailFacebookTwitterYouTube

“Why Sit Ye Here and Die?”

"Why Sit Ye Here and Die?" Document Text Summary Most of our color have dragged out a miserable existence of servitude from the cradle to the grave. And what literary acquirements can be made, or useful knowledge derived, from either maps, books or charm, by those who continually drudge from Monday morning until Sunday noon? O, ye fairer sisters, whose hands are never soiled, whose nerves and muscles are never strained, go learn by experience! Most Black people spend their entire lives serving white people. What possible education can someone get when they work every day of the week? Oh white sisters, who never have to work hard, go try it and see how it is. Had we had the opportunity that you have had, to improve our moral and mental faculties, what would have hindered our

2023-04-04T08:57:17-04:00
Read More

Declaration of Rights and Sentiments

Declaration of Rights and Sentiments Document Text Summary Declaration of Rights and Sentiments When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course. When a group of people feel it is necessary to change their social position, they should lay out their reasoning for doing so. We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among

2023-04-04T08:58:49-04:00
Read More

Indigenous Land Ownership

Indigenous Land Ownership Map from Land Surveys in Penobscot County Zebulon Bradley, “Official Copies of Land Surveys in the County of Penobscot. Prepared under the direction of the Land Agent of Maine in compliance with Resolves of 1887 and 1889.” Penobscot County Registry of Deeds, Bangor. Before the arrival of white settlers, the Penobscot inhabited lands that spanned the modern-day states of Maine and Massachusetts. They divided their lands into family hunting territories that could support communities of up to 100 people. Decades of broken treaties and illegal sales reduced the Penobscot land to the islands in the Penobscot River by 1833. Without the miles of forests and waterways that once supported their traditional way of life, many Penobscot turned to farming.

2024-03-14T14:00:20-04:00
Read More

Life Story: Susan Clark Holley

Life Story: Susan Clark Holley Susan Clark Susan Clark portrait. WDM Historical Society. This video was created by the New-York Historical Society Teen Leaders in collaboration with the Untold project. Susan Clark was born into the free Black community of Muscatine, Iowa, in 1854. Her father, Alexander, was a successful business owner. He made enough money that Susan’s mother, Catherine, could stay home to care for their family. Susan had two older siblings: a sister named Rebecca and a brother named Charles. Iowa was a so-called free state, but the Clark family faced the same kind of prejudice and discrimination that made the lives of Black people challenging in all parts of the

2024-03-14T13:51:20-04:00
Read More

No Place for Black Women

No Place for Black Women Document Text Summary At the time of writing we have only seen the first day’s proceedings [of the Worcester Convention]. These are all we could have wished except the introduction of the color question. The convention was not called to discuss the rights of color; and we think it was altogether irrelevant and unwise to introduce the question. We dislike very much the omnibus plan of action, and … we would contend to the last possible moment against any bundle of measures, even though we were in favor of every one taken separately and singly. In a woman’s rights convention the question of color had no right to a hearing. One thing at a time! Always do one thing at a time, and you will get along much faster than by attempting

2024-01-23T13:21:31-05:00
Read More

Theatrical Scandal

Theatrical Scandal Adah Isaacs Menken “Adah Isaacs Menken.” American Jewish Historical Society. Mark Twain review of Adah Isaacs Menken Mark Twain, "Territorial Enterprise," San Francisco Correspondent, September 17, 1883. Mark Twain Project, The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley. Document Text Summary Letter from Mark Twain The Menken- Written especially for Gentlemen. When I arrived in San Francisco, I found there was no one in town-at least there was nobody in town but “The Menken”-or rather, that no one was being talked about except that manly young female. I went to see her play “Mazeppa,” of course. They said she was dressed from head to foot in flesh-colored “tight,” but I had no

2024-03-14T13:58:48-04:00
Read More

Abortion Debate

Abortion Debate Ad for Madame Restell's services. To married women - Madame Restell, female physician. New York, 1840. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. Document Text Summary V. - The Frequency of Forced Abortions, even among the Married. All are familiar with the fact, to be perceived everywhere upon the most casual scrutiny, that the standard size of families is not on the average what used to be seen; in other words, that instances of an excess over three or four children are not nearly as common as we know was the case a generation or two back. No one supposes that men or women have, as a whole, so deteriorated in procreative ability as this might otherwise seem to imply. Anyone can

2024-03-14T13:54:11-04:00
Read More

Life Story: Caroline Ga-ha-no Parker Mountpleasant

Life Story: Caroline Ga-ha-no Parker Mountpleasant Caroline Ga-Ha-No Parker Mountpleasant Image of Caroline Parker Mountpleasant, 1892. Rochester Museum and Science Center. Caroline Ga-ha-no Parker Mountpleasant was born into the Seneca Wolf Clan around the year 1826. Her mother, Elizabeth, was a Clan Mother and related to an important chief. Seneca society is matrilineal, so Caroline inherited her place in the Wolf Clan from her mother. The Wolf Clan had a long history of leadership within the larger Seneca Nation, so her family and community may have expected Caroline to assume a leadership role as she grew older. Caroline’s father, William, was a respected warrior who rose to fame during the War of 1812. William and Elizabeth had seven children. Caroline was the only girl. Caroline grew up

2024-01-23T13:14:34-05:00
Read More

Testimonio

Testimonio Document Text Summary Subscribed sworn to before me this 12th day of Dec 1884. [?] Smith, Clerk 2nd Dist. of N.M. My name is Maria Gallegos y Garcia, 62 years of age, live at Banclas [?], Bernalillo Co Territory.  Q. How long have you lived at Banclas? A. About 20 years. Q. Where did you live before that? A. At Padillas-lived there about 8 years. Q. Where before that? A. At Banclas. I lived at [?] was married there at 16 years of age, and then went to Padillas and went from there to Tajo for 8 years, then to Banclas where I have lived since. My name is Maria Gallegos y Garcia, I am 62 years old, and I live in Banclas, Bernalillo County Territory.  Q. How long have you lived at

2022-12-06T11:25:47-05:00
Read More

Married Women’s Property Act

Married Women's Property Act Document Text Summary "An Act for the protection and preservation of the rights of Married Women." Section 1. Be it enacted, by the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, That any married woman may become seized or possessed of any property, real or personal, by direct bequest, demise, gift, purchase, or distribution, in her own name, and as of her own property: Provided, the same does not come from her husband after coverture. The Mississippi state government declares that married women can possess property. Section 2. And be it further enacted, That hereafter when any woman possessed of a property in slaves, shall marry, her property in such slaves and their natural increase shall continue to her, notwithstanding her coverture; and she shall have, hold, and possess the same, as her separate property,

2023-04-04T09:02:25-04:00
Read More

Quick Links

Donate
Contact
Shop Now
Sign Up