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Secondary sourceBook1891

William Lloyd Garrison, the Abolitionist

Archibald Henry Grimké · 1891

An 1891 biography of Garrison written by Archibald Grimké, son of an enslaved woman and a biographer of abolitionists.

A biography of Garrison written by the son of an enslaved woman, showing his legacy among Black reformers.

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William Lloyd Garrison, the AbolitionistPDF · 426 pages
Archibald H. Grimké, William Lloyd Garrison, the Abolitionist, 1891.

About this source

What it is

This book, written by Archibald Grimké and published in 1891, is a biography of William Lloyd Garrison describing his career as an abolitionist and reformer.

Why it matters

Grimké was himself connected to the struggle against slavery, and his account shows how Garrison was remembered by African American writers and reformers in the generation after emancipation. The dedication and preface reveal the author's hope that Garrison's example would inspire readers of his own time.

Look closer

  • Why might Grimké, as an African American author, have chosen to write about Garrison specifically?
  • What does the preface's language about being "brave and true" tell you about how the author wanted readers to see Garrison?
  • How might this book differ from one written by someone who disagreed with Garrison's methods?

This book 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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