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The relevant historiography for colonial abolitionism can be sorted into three primary categories: large-scale works on the entirety of the abolition movement, mid-scale works on the direct role that Quakers had on the development of an early antislavery movement, and small-scale works on individual abolitionists from the period that are typically overlooked.
The relevant historiography for colonial abolitionism can be sorted into three primary categories: large-scale works on the entirety of the abolition movement, mid-scale works on the direct role that Quakers had on the development of an early antislavery movement, and small-scale works on individual abolitionists from the period that are typically overlooked.
Abolition Movement
Abolition Movement
Undoubtedly the largest category in the relevant historiography, the large-scale works of the abolition movement in America rarely include more than a chapter on the movement prior to the Revolutionary Period. One notable exception to this is David Brion Davis' The Problem of Slavery in Western Culture, winner of the 1967 Pulitzer Prize. In this work, Davis devotes a third of his work to abolitionism in the Colonial Period. His chapters include discussion on the role of Quakers, British Protestantism, latitudinarian theology, rationalism in the Enlightenment, utility and law in the Enlightenment, and an epilogue honoring Quaker abolitionist John Woolman. While the list of selected works below is far from exhaustive, these works are typically the most cited secondary sources on the topic.
Undoubtedly the largest category in the relevant historiography, the large-scale works of the abolition movement in America rarely include more than a chapter on the movement prior to the Revolutionary Period. One notable exception to this is David Brion Davis' The Problem of Slavery in Western Culture, winner of the 1967 Pulitzer Prize. In this work, Davis devotes a third of his work to abolitionism in the Colonial Period. His chapters include discussion on the role of Quakers, British Protestantism, latitudinarian theology, rationalism in the Enlightenment, utility and law in the Enlightenment, and an epilogue honoring Quaker abolitionist John Woolman. While the list of selected works below is far from exhaustive, these works are typically the most cited secondary sources on the topic.
1901
1901
1966
1966
2009
2009
2016
2016
Quaker Abolition Movement
Quaker Abolition Movement
The second largest category in the relevant historiography is mid-scale works of the specific contributions of Quakers on America's abolition movement. Historian William Frost recently claimed that: "Historians are in agreement that American Quakers were the first church to grapple with the morality of slavery, to require members to free their slaves, to found manumission societies seeking general emancipation, and to defend the rights of freed blacks."1 Despite this consensus, however, the literature on the role of Quakers in the abolitionist movement has been rather sparse. Frost wrote about this concern in his 1978 article "The Origins of the Quaker Crusade Against Slavery: A Review of the Recent Literature" and few works have been completed in this category since.2 Much to Frost's gratitude, however, there has been a change since his article regarding the amount of works on individual Quaker abolitionists, as demonstrated by the next category.
The second largest category in the relevant historiography is mid-scale works of the specific contributions of Quakers on America's abolition movement. Historian William Frost recently claimed that: "Historians are in agreement that American Quakers were the first church to grapple with the morality of slavery, to require members to free their slaves, to found manumission societies seeking general emancipation, and to defend the rights of freed blacks."1 Despite this consensus, however, the literature on the role of Quakers in the abolitionist movement has been rather sparse. Frost wrote about this concern in his 1978 article "The Origins of the Quaker Crusade Against Slavery: A Review of the Recent Literature" and few works have been completed in this category since.2 Much to Frost's gratitude, however, there has been a change since his article regarding the amount of works on individual Quaker abolitionists, as demonstrated by the next category.
1950
1950
1985
1985
2012
2012
2014
2014
Colonial Abolitionists
Colonial Abolitionists
After multiple centuries of relative silence, the last fifteen years have seen the publication of major biographies for four different colonial abolitionists. These targeted inquiries into the lives of John Woolman, Anthony Benezet, Benjamin Lay, and Warner Mifflin demonstrate a clear surge of interest in early abolitionism.
After multiple centuries of relative silence, the last fifteen years have seen the publication of major biographies for four different colonial abolitionists. These targeted inquiries into the lives of John Woolman, Anthony Benezet, Benjamin Lay, and Warner Mifflin demonstrate a clear surge of interest in early abolitionism.
2009
2009
2010
2010
2017
2017
2017
2017
Notes
Notes
Frost, J. William. “Why Quakers and Slavery?: Why Not More Quakers?” In Quakers and Abolition, edited by Brycchan Carey and Geoffrey Plank, 29–42. University of Illinois Press, 2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5406/j.ctt7zw60d.6.
Frost, J. William. “THE ORIGINS OF THE QUAKER CRUSADE AGAINST SLAVERY: A REVIEW OF RECENT LITERATURE.” Quaker History 67, no. 1 (1978): 42–58. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41946850.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Carey, Brycchan. From Peace to Freedom: Quaker Rhetoric and the Birth of American Antislavery, 1657-1761. United Kingdom: Yale University Press, 2012.
Davis, David Brion. The Problem of Slavery in Western Culture. Italy: Oxford University Press, 1988.
Drake, Thomas Edward. Quakers and Slavery in America: The Quakers' Role in Abolition from George Fox to John Greenleaf Whittier. United States: Yale University Press, 1950.
Drescher, Seymour. Abolition: A History of Slavery and Antislavery. United States: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Jackson, Maurice. Let This Voice Be Heard: Anthony Benezet, Father of Atlantic Abolitionism. United States: University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated, 2010.
Locke, Mary Stoughton. Anti-slavery in America from the Introduction of African Slaves to the Prohibition of the Slave Trade (1619-1808). United Kingdom: Johnson Reprint Corporation, 1968.
Nash, Gary B.. Warner Mifflin: Unflinching Quaker Abolitionist. United States: University of Pennsylvania Press, Incorporated, 2017.
Quakers and Abolition. United States: University of Illinois Press, 2014.
Rediker, Marcus. The Fearless Benjamin Lay: The Quaker Dwarf Who Became the First Revolutionary Abolitionist. United States: Beacon Press, 2017.
Sinha, Manisha. The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition. United Kingdom: Yale University Press, 2016.
Slaughter, Thomas P.. The Beautiful Soul of John Woolman, Apostle of Abolition. United States: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009.
Soderlund, Jean R.. Quakers and Slavery: A Divided Spirit. United States: Princeton University Press, 2014.
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