Orator, Activist, and Former Enslaved Person
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery on a plantation in Maryland in 1818. After twenty years in servitude, he escaped and spent the rest of his life advocating, publishing, and lecturing about the evils of slavery and the rights of African Americans during its aftermath. He travelled all around the country and even internationally for a time, becoming one of the most influential American speakers of all time. On February 1st, 1895, Douglass visited West Chester Normal School to give a speech on “The Race Problem.” It was at least the fourth address Douglass had delivered in the town of West Chester, but it was also to be his last. In fact, it was the last public lecture he gave anywhere. He died less than three weeks later, on February 20th, 1895.
Bringing Douglass to Campus
George Morris Philips served as principal of West Chester Normal School from 1881-1920. During his term, Philips built one of the largest collections of autographed books in the world. Today, the Philips Autograph Library is in the Philips Memorial Building on campus. Philips first wrote to Frederick Douglass seeking an autographed book to add to the collection. He originally contacted Douglass in Chicago, where the latter was serving as the representative for Haiti at the World’s Columbian Exposition. Philips asked Douglass to sign and forward a copy of Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, the final autobiography in an extraordinary trilogy of books. He sent the volume to Philips in January of 1894, but the two men continued to correspond. Philips was determined to bring Douglass to West Chester to speak to his students.
In September of 1894, Douglass responded to Philips’ invitation with a vague answer about wanting to come, but being in bad health. Douglass sent another letter to Philips in October saying that he could speak on February 1st, 1895, but he also stated that his health was getting worse. Fredrick Douglass was seventy-six at this time, and in his letters he declared that “time and toil have made their impression on me.” From these two letters, Philips believed that Douglass was coming to West Chester and advertised the lecture publicly.
In December, Douglass responded to a letter from Philips asking about the topic of his upcoming lecture. Douglass responds by saying that he would not be able to visit and give the lecture because he was not well enough. However, when another letter from Douglass arrived a bit later in December, it indicated that Philips had already advertised the lecture as he had been under the impression Douglass had agreed to deliver it. Douglass now had no choice. He would give a speech on “the race problem,” but he promised no grand lecture. During the next month, they continued to write to each other about the upcoming visit.
Finally, on February 1st, 1895, Frederick Douglass gave his lecture in Old Main Hall and, while the full speech was not recorded, details from it were reported in The Daily Local News.
Thoughts on Music, Lincoln and More
All the documents that are related to Douglass, including the letters, pictures, obituary, canceled check, quotes by Douglass, annotations by Philips, and more were kept in Philips’ records, which are now in Special Collections at Francis Harvey Green Library. The signed copy of Douglass’ narrative, part of the Philips Autograph Library, is shelved in the Philips Memorial Building. While reminders of Douglass and his relationship with West Chester live on all over campus, this digital collection features items capturing Douglass’ thoughts on such topics as Lincoln, morality, and even music.
In a letter Douglass wrote to Mrs. Philips on February 7th, 1895, he thanks her and her husband for their hospitality, noting how much he enjoyed his visit. Mrs. Philips must have previously sent him a copy of an article about the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which prompted Douglass to share his thoughts on music in his letter as well. He talked about his belief that emotion is expressed through music and shared his memories of sadness and oppression in the songs he heard when he was still a child on the plantation.
A loose sheet of paper in the collection dated September 22, 1885 bears the following inscription by Douglass: “Man, not money. Right, not might. Character, not color. The whole of humanity, not a part.” Another item is a brief anecdote recorded in Philips’ hand and dated February 1, 1895, the same day Douglass spoke on campus. Philips writes, “Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass said that when a proud man met Abraham Lincoln, he found in him an equal, and when a humble man met him, he found in him a brother.”
The Legacy of an American Hero
Frederick Douglass passed away on February 20th, 1895. He died from a heart attack in Washington D.C., and his obituary soon appeared in Harper’s Weekly Magazine among countless other publications. George Morris Philips kept a copy, which he annotated. A few weeks after Douglass’ death, Helen Douglass wrote to Philips to thank him for hosting her husband and to tell him that the West Chester lecture was actually the last her husband ever delivered. Considering Douglass died nineteen days after his speech, it is clear he really was an activist until his last days.
West Chester University continues to honor Frederick Douglass today. The university founded the Frederick Douglass Institute, whose mission is to “maintain the legacy of Frederick Douglass before the campus community, local community, religion, and the nation through the highest quality of academic programming that promotes excellence in scholarship, teaching, and institutional advancement.” The Institute supports and sponsors various awards, scholarships, and conferences.
In 2013, Dr. Clifford DeBaptiste, a former Mayor of West Chester and recipient of the Multicultural Leadership Award by the Frederick Douglass Institute, unveiled a statue of Douglass to be placed on campus. The bronze statue, cast by sculptor Richard Blake, stands just outside the Philips Memorial Building and depicts Douglass holding a broken rope. The rope signifies Douglass’ escape from slavery and determination to fight for change. He is also depicted as a younger man, roughly the age when he broke the bonds of slavery forever. Today, students walk by the statue and are reminded of the great work Douglass did; hopefully, they are inspired to advocate and fight for a better future as well. In 2006, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission erected a historical marker on campus between Main Hall and the Francis Harvey Green Library. The marker’s inscription reads, “Champion of human freedom, African American abolitionist, newspaper editor, U.S. Colored Troops recruiter, U.S. ambassador to Haiti, and orator, Frederick Douglass gave his last public address "Against Lynch Law" here on February 1, 1895. A frequent visitor to West Chester, Douglass denounced lynching and bigotry and urged freedom, justice, and equality for all Americans. The Frederick Douglass Institute here maintains Douglass' legacy.”
Frederick Douglass is a significant part of the history of West Chester University, where his visit and legacy are remembered and celebrated to this day. This digital collection is just one more way of preserving and sharing his story.
Recently Added Items
Note about February 1, 1895 Frederick Douglass Lecture in the Amulet Volume 3, Number 10, Page 195
This is page 195 in the West Chester State Normal School's student newspaper The Amulet, Volume 3, Number 10 published in January 1895. It features an…
Editorial Obituary Article in the Amulet Volume 4, Number 2, Pages 26-28
This editorial obituary article is featured in the West Chester State Normal School's student newspaper "The Amulet" Volume 4, Number 2, pages 26-28,…
Note about Frederick Douglass Mementos in The Amulet Volume 4, Number 4, Page 80
This is page 80 in the West Chester State Normal School's student newspaper The Amulet, Volume 4, Number 4 published in April 1895. It features an…
Inscribed Introductory Pages within "The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" Memoir
These are inscribed and personalized introductory pages in George Morris Philips' copy of Frederick Douglass' memoir "The Life and Times of Frederick…
Letter from Frederick Douglass to George Morris Philips on September 20, 1894
Frederick Douglass writes to George Morris Philips, saying that he will come to West Chester to deliver a lecture. He asks to be compensated fifty…