February 20

February 20, 1895: Frederick Douglas died in his home in Washington D.C. at the age of 78.  He had been participating that day in a meeting of the Women's National Council and was scheduled to speak later that evening at the nearby Hillside African Church.

(from the New York Times, Feb 21, 1895)

Sources and Further Reading:

• Obituary- Death of Fred Douglas, New York Times.  February 21, 1895, pp. 1&3

July 5

July 5, 1852: On the 25th anniversary of New York State's abolition of slavery, Frederick Douglass delivers his famous "Fifth of July" speech in Rochester's Corinthian Hall, declaring; "This Fourth of July is yours not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn."

 

 

 

Sources and Further Reading:

1. Rochester History (2005), vol 67, no 4, pg 10
2. pbs.com; Africans in America, Resource Bank, 'The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro'

December 3

December 3, 1847: The first edition of the North Star newspaper was published in Rochester by Frederick Douglas.

Sources and Further Reading

1. Documents of the American South, from UNC website
2. RocWiki: Frederick Douglas
3. Wikipedia - The North Star (Newspaper)

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