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Primary sourceDocument28 May 1879

Tributes to William Lloyd Garrison at his Funeral

John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell · 28 May 1879

A record of tributes spoken by his friends John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell at William Lloyd Garrison's funeral in 1879.

These are tributes delivered by close friends at Garrison's own funeral, showing how he was remembered at his death.

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Solid dark teal book cover with white call number label in the upper left reading 'E 449' and '.G267'. No title or other text is visible.
Tributes to William Lloyd Garrison at his funeral, 28 May 1879.

About this source

What it is

This source contains tributes to William Lloyd Garrison delivered at his funeral on 28 May 1879, by two close friends, the poets John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell. The item in the catalogue is a book with a plain dark teal cover.

Why it matters

Whittier and Lowell were well-known American writers of the time who also supported the antislavery cause. Their words at Garrison's funeral reflect how he was remembered immediately after his death by people who had known him personally, offering insight into his reputation among fellow reformers and writers.

Look closer

  • Why might friends who were also famous writers have been asked to speak at Garrison's funeral?
  • What might tributes delivered at a funeral leave out compared to a more critical account of a person's life?
  • What does the choice of speakers tell you about the circles Garrison moved in?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Lloyd Garrison on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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