Viewing page 10 of 27

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

THE FREDRICK DOUGLASS HOME

By MRS. MARY B. TALBERT

[[image]]
MRS. M. B. TALBERT

At the last biennial meeting of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, held in Baltimore, Md., August 6 to 10, 1916, a committee was appointed to look into the advisability of assisting the trustees of the Fredrick Douglass Historical Association which has charge of the home of the late Frederick Douglass at Anacostia, D.C. We found that under a special act of Congress this Association was created first, to preserve to posterity the memory of the life and character of the late Frederick Douglass; and second, to collect, collate and preserve a historical record of the inception, progress and culmination of the anti-slavery movement in the United States and to assemble in the homestead of the late Frederick Douglass, commonly called Cedar Hill, in the village of Anacostia, in the District of Columbia, all such suitable exhibits of records or things illustrative or commemorative of the anti-slavery movement and history as may be donated to said Association or acquired by purchase, bequest or other lawful means. After careful consideration of all the facts we conclude that this is the psychological moment for us, as women, to show our true worth and prove that the Negro woman of to-day measures up to those strong and sainted women of our race, like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Amanda Smith, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and others who passed through the fire of slavery and its galling remembrances.

We believe the attainment of the goal depends upon the enlistment of every Negro, man, woman, boy and girl in America. We seriously realize that it will require us to mobilize all the resources of our Association to show that we are not afraid to put ourselves on record as being able to save the home by one day's co-operative effort.

We purpose to enlist the largest possible number of people, especially the boys and girls, in this part of the work of our Association, relying upon race loyalty and pride as the energizing power.

We purpose to employ such methods as will enable us to use every resource within our power for the accomplishment of this task. We believe that the need is concrete and we know that our share toward saving the hoe is comparatively small; this, however,

[[4 images]]
MISS I. R. CUMMINGS.
MRS. V. C. HALEY.
MISS R. J. DUNBAR.
MISS H. Q. BROWN.

174

THE FREDERICK DOUGLASS HOME

[[image]]
MISS G. A. NUGENT.

will give us courage to feel that by all working together it can be accomplished.

We believe that every boy and girl should become a co-operating member in this program and with that in view we earnestly urge every woman's club to mobilize its boys and girls. The public schools are asked to observe the one hundredth anniversary of Douglass's birth, on Friday afternoon, February 9, by a short program, and each child is asked to contribute one penny on that day toward paying for the renovation of the Douglass home. In our northern and eastern cities where our day school pupils are not separated and in our Sunday schools all over this country, we are asking Sabbath school superintendents to hold a short memorial service on Sunday, February 11, and to ask each child to contribute one penny toward the saving of this home.

The question, no doubt, will be asked by many, "Is it worth while?"

I answer strongly, "Yes." For who can measure the far-reaching results of this great work and the inspiration that will be given to the boys and girls of our race! Will it not stir their hearts to greater race pride for them to know that they will have a hand in it and thus directly express their gratitude to the silent memory of the great Douglass? Here is our opportunity. The amount will differ, but the gift will be the same, for the gift is measured by the love behind it and by that alone.

Every man, woman, boy, girl, and each club who takes a share in the redemption of this home enters into a partnership with the trustees in preserving to posterity the home of the greatest man of our race of his time.

To arouse our women to greater activity we have decided that we will place upon parchment the name of every individual or club that contributes the sum of twenty-five dollars; and for the club which sends the greatest amount over twenty-five dollars a special tablet will be placed. This is done that our children in the years to come, when paying their visit to this shrine, may read the names of loyal race men and women who have proven false the accusation so long brought against us that we show no gratitude for benefactors if doing so costs dollars and cent. We need $15,000 for the saving and restoration of the home and grounds. Will you take a share in it? I have deemed it advisable to appoint a special treasurer to look after the funds. Send all monies collected to Mrs. Nettie L. Napier, 120 Fifteenth Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee. Make your contribution on the one hundredth anniversary of this great man's birth, February 12, 1917. For further information address the president of the National Association of Colored Women, Mrs. Mary B. Talbert, 521 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, N.Y.

[[image]]
MRS. I. J. JACKSON.

The committee in charge of this movement are as follows: