This exhibit explores the physical and literary landscapes of Boston around the time of Chloe Russel’s text’s publication.

Getting Our Bearings  

Below is a non-exhaustive map of Boston booksellers from roughly 1800-1850, with a few outliers. Each layer of the map comes from a different source material. Since the landscape of Boston has changed since then, some locations are approximate. 

 

The Literary Atmosphere of Chloe Russel’s Text 

After seeing the plethora of booksellers that existed throughout the century in Boston, one might wonder what sorts of books these vendors were peddling. Surely there has to be a great variety of books to sell in order for all these vendors to stay afloat. This is correct. Using the aesthetic techniques of early Boston newspapers, this booklet below highlights a sampling of the various types of literature and paper goods that were sold by the booksellers listed above. 

 

Bibliography for Map of Booksellers:

Adams, George. The BOSTON DIRECTORY: containing THE CITY RECORD, A GENERAL DIRECTORY OF THE CITIZENS, A. SPECIAL DIRECTORY OF TRADES, PROFESSIONS, &c. AN ALMANAC, FROM JULY, 1849, T0 JULY, 1850. Boston : G. Adams. Google Books, Mountain View, CA. 14 December 2020. 

African Society (Boston, Mass.), “Laws of the African Society, Instituted at Boston, Anno Domini, 1796.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11554.

Easton, H. (Hosea), 1798-, “An Address: Delivered before the Coloured Population, of Providence, R. I. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1828,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 17, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11050.

Easton, H. (Hosea), 1798-, “An Appeal to the Christian Public, in Behalf of the Methodist Episcopal Church, West-Center-Street Boston: Organized, Under the Rules and Regulations, Recently Adopted by the People of Colour, at New-York. Entitled the Asbury Connexion.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 18, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11049.

Frost, John H. A. and Stimpson, Charles A. THE BOSTON DIRECTORY; CONTAINING NAMES OF THE INHABITANTS ; THEIR OCCUPATIONS , PLACES OF BUSINESS AND DWELLING HOUSES ; WITH LISTS OF THE STREETS, LANES AND WHARVES, - THE CITY OFFICERS. C. Stimpson, 1831-1846. Google Books, Mountain View, CA. 14 December 2020. 

Hall, Prince, 1748-1807, “A Charge, Delivered to the African Lodge, June 24, 1797, at Menotomy,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11093.

Hall, Prince, 1748-1807, “A Charge Delivered to the Brethren of the African Lodge on the 25th of June, 1792, at the Hall of Brother William Smith, in Charlestown. by the Right Worshipful Master Prince Hall. Printed at the Request of the Lodge.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11113.

Hammon, Briton, “A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings, and Surprizing Deliverance of Briton Hammon, a Negro Man,---Servant to General Winslow, of Marshfield, in New-England: Who Returned to Boston, After Having Been Absent Almost Thirteen Years.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11126.

The Liberator. “‘The Liberator’ April 11, 1845.” NPGallery Digital Asset Management System, National Park Service, 28 Sep. 2020, https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/933e5a5a-cd05-451a-8db8-2501316ecd25.

Site of the Liberator Office. National Park Service, September 2020.

Stewart, Maria W., 1803-1879, “Religion and the Pure Principles of Morality, the Sure Foundation on which We Must Build; Productions from the Pen of Mrs. Maria W. Steward,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11041.

Stimpson, Charles. Boston Business Directory. 1834. Boston : C. Stimpson, 1831-1846. American Ancestors, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA. 20 November 2020.

Stimpson, Charles. Boston Business Directory. 1845. Boston : C. Stimpson, 1831-1846.Digital Collections and Archives, Tufts University, Boston, MA. 26 November 2020. 

Walker, David, 1785-1830, “Walker's Appeal, in Four Articles: Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America, Written in Boston, State of Massachusetts, September 28, 1829,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11045.

Walker, David, 1785-1830, “Walker's Appeal, in Four Articles: Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America, Written in Boston, State of Massachusetts, September 28, 1829. 2d Ed., with Corrections, &C.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11044.

Walker, David, 1785-1830, “Walker's Appeal, in Four Articles: Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America, Written in Boston, State of Massachusetts, September 28, 1829. -- Third and Last Edition, with Additional Notes, Corrections, &C.,” Black Self-Publishing, accessed December 14, 2020, https://www.americanantiquarian.org/blackpublishing/items/show/11043.