Lydia Maria Child was a prominent women’s rights activist, abolitionist, and author. Child produced a vast array of literary works including fiction and nonfiction novels, poetry, and political appeals.

In 1831, Lydia Maria Child, having been strongly influenced by the writings of prominent abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, joined the American Anti-Slavery Society. In 1833, Child published her most controversial work on abolitionism, An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans, in which she called for the immediate emancipation and integration of African Americans into society as equal citizen.[1] The book was referred to as “the most comprehensive indictment of slavery ever written by a white abolitionist,” and her power of persuasion has been credited with converting many pro-slavery advocates, including Wendell Phillips, to support the cause of the Anti-Slavery Society.[2]

Moreover, Child served as a writer for the weekly newspaper for the American Anti-Slavery Society, The National Standard. The newspaper was designed with the intent to extend the rights of slaves across the country and it advocated not only for suffrage rights for men of color, but also suffrage rights for women.[3] When Child became the editor of the Standard in 1841, serving until 1843, she was the first American woman to edit a newspaper focused on changing public policy.[4] As the editor, she wrote and printed a weekly column entitled, “Letters from New York.” In an article printed on December 9, 1841 entitled “The Eloquent Colored Preacher. Story of Zeek, the Shrewd Slave,” Child discussed Zeek’s life as a fugitive from slavery, his escape from the South, and the assistance he received from the American Anti-Slavery Society. Child documented the existence of Zeek’s descendants, living freely and comfortably in New York, and in particular his daughter who served as a preacher.[5] The story of Zeek reflected many of the narratives and articles written by Child for her column in the Standard.

In the time that Child served as the editor of the Standard, she lived in New York, and stayed with prominent abolitionist Isaac T. Hopper. Child deeply admired Hopper and highly praised his work both as an abolitionist and a leader in the New York Prison Association. In her columns, she referred to Hopper as “that indefatigable friend of the oppressed.”[6] In 1854, after she ended her involvement with the Anti-Slavery Society, Child published a biography of Hopper in which she continued to praise his benevolence. Child referred to Hopper as “unconscious of his power,”[7] “[a man] held in high respect”[8] and someone was possessed “extreme benevolence.”[9] In all, Child admired Hopper and spent several years living and becoming well acquainted with his story and his kindness.  

[1] Lydia Maria Francis Child, An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans. (Amherst, Mass: University of Massachusetts Press, 1996).

[2] Liz Watts, “Lydia Maria Child: Editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard 1841-1843.” Journalism History 35, no. 1 (Spring 2009): 13. 

[3] “The National Anti-Slavery Standard 1840-1870.” Accessible Archives Inc. Accessed March 02, 2019 from https://www.accessible-archives.com/collections/national-anti-slavery-standard/

[4] Watts, 12.

[5] Lydia Maria Child. Letters from New York. (New York, NY: C.S Francis and Company, 1845) 73-81.

[6] Child, Letters from New York, 74.

[7] Lydia Maria Child, Isaac T. Hopper, A True Life, (Boston, Mass: J.P. Jewett & Company, 1854,) 412.

[8] Child, Isaac T Hopper, A True Life, 412.

[9] Child, Isaac T. Hopper, A True Life, 417.