I offer the following tribute to Anna Douglass, first wife of Frederick Douglass and mother of their five children, on the anniversary of her death Aug. 4, 1882:
Both Frederick Bailey and Anna Murray were born in rural Maryland in the early 1800s and grew up under harsh racist customs that strictly defined roles for men and women by sex, race and class.
By the time Frederick and Anna met in the 1830s in Baltimore, his owner valued him as a slave who was a skilled caulker. Yet Anna, despite being a free woman skilled as a domestic and cook, was not well paid by her white employers. [Read more…] about Anna Murray-Douglass: Frederick’s Most Important Ally
In a 
Her hair was flaming red and so were her freckles. Born Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith on August 14, 1894 in Alderson, West Virginia, she was the youngest of four children.
Before the Civil War 
The Rome Historical Society (RHS) is set to host to a panel discussion presented by Rome’s Afro-American Heritage Association (AAHA) on Wednesday, February 26th.
The February 2020 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” focused on Just Call Me Lucky, a new book about Hezekiah Easter. Based on extensive personal interviews and written in the “as told to” style by Elizabeth Vallone, the book highlights Easter’s many contributions to the Rockand County community, including his work as the first African American to hold elected office in Rockland County, his tireless efforts to preserve Mount Moor Cemetery, and much more. 
In recognition of Black History Month, Fold3.com is making the records in its Black History Collection available for free through the end of February. 
Peterboro Heritage NY sites have announced Black History programs celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which was ratified February 3, 1870 stating The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 
The New-York Historical Society has announced “New York Urban League: 100 Stories of Black New York,” a program set for Thursday, February 20th, 2020.
Many of