Although their numbers were relatively small compared to the total population of the city, antislavery activists appeared in every corner of Lowell’s population – from mill girls and mill bosses to business owners and clergymen. This collection contains petitions, articles, poetry, sermons, and literature that support the antislavery cause.
To what degree did Lowell’s white residents engage in antislavery activities? What were their motivations? What risks did they face? How did other people respond to their efforts?