NB Historical Society – The New Bedford Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the heritage of people of color in New Bedford, MA

Abolition Row Park
breaking ground this spring
“I now find that I could have landed in no other part of the United States, where I should have found a more striking and gratifying contrast to the condition of the free people of color in Baltimore, than I found here in New Bedford….Here in New Bedford, it was my good fortune to see a pretty near approach to freedom on the part of the colored people.”

Frederick Douglass, My Bondage and My Freedom (1855)

Listen

The New Bedford Historical Society’s President, Lee Blake sits down with host Jim Phillips of Townsquare Sunday discussing New Bedford’s Historic District. March 2021

How New Bedford shaped Frederick Douglass, and how he then shaped the nation!

nbhistoricalsociety

For his outstanding bravery in holding the flag al

For his outstanding bravery in holding the flag aloft in the heat of the terrific fight, and bringing it safely into camp, Sergeant William H. Carney was awarded the coveted Congressional Medal of Honor, becoming the first African American to receive this honor.

Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Amos Haskins (1816-1861) was a Wampanoag Indian of

Amos Haskins (1816-1861) was a Wampanoag Indian of the Gay Head tribe who rose through the whaling industry to become a master mariner and is believed to have been one of few American Indians ever to have achieved that rank.

Meet Rev. William Jackson, a fervent abolitionist

Meet Rev. William Jackson, a fervent abolitionist & activist with New Bedford roots!

Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Joseph J. Monte aka Jose Jaime Monteiro was born i

Joseph J. Monte aka Jose Jaime Monteiro was born in Fogo, Cabo Verde on November 25, 1888. He immigrated to the United States in September of 1900 and became a United States citizen on May 5, 1919. He enlisted in the United States Army on March 19, 1918 during World War I and was assigned to Company H with the 307 th Infantry Regiment. During the War, Private Monte participated in the Oise-Aisne Offensive and the Baccarat and Vesle Defensive. He was wounded on July 5 at the battle of Alsace Lorraine and despite being wounded, he continued at the Battle of Fismes where he was seriously wounded. Pvt. Monte was taken as prisoner of war to Anhault-Zerbst, Germany where he was held until his release in December 1918. Upon his release, he was hospitalized in England and when he returned to the United States he was Honorably discharged on May 22, 1919. In January of 1935, Veteran Joseph J. Monte was awarded the Purple Heart, the first known Cape Verdean American. He died on March 26, 1935 and is buried in Saint John’s Cemetery, New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1938, the City of New Bedford honored him with the naming of Joseph J. Monte Playground, on the site of the former Vocational High School.

Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

The New Bedford Historical Society is a proud spon

The New Bedford Historical Society is a proud sponsor of this wonderful virtual event taking place for AHA! New Bedford this Thursday February 10th!

THE REVEREND WILLIAM JACKSON:
HAND-IN-HAND FOR LIBERTY AND EQUALITY

Our presenter for the evening will be Valerie Craigwell White, great-great granddaughter of Rev. William & Mrs. Jane Jackson.
Valerie grew up listening to the family stories of the Jacksons and their life as abolitionists and members of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia and New Bedford.

She began to research them when her sister shared with her family mementoes of Jane's letters and journal entries from Rev. Jackson.

Valerie is currently writing a book on their lives and has been sharing their stories with audiences around the country.
She has presented at the William Still UGRR Conference and recently the Martha's Vineyard Museum which hosted an exhibit on Rev. Jackson with a talk by Valerie.

Thursday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m.
For the Zoom link or for additional information please contact us at info@nbhistoricalsociety.org or call (508) 979-8828

Visit https://nbhistoricalsociety.org/ to learn more about what The New Bedford Historical Society has in store!

Proudly Sponsored by
The New Bedford Civil War Roundtable and The New Bedford Historical Society
This program is funded by Mass Humanities

Fred Bailey boarded a train in Baltimore in 1838,

Fred Bailey boarded a train in Baltimore in 1838, escaped north to freedom dressed in a sailor’s uniform stitched by his fiancée, a free woman, Anna Murray. His escape route on the underground railroad would take him to New York, Newport, Rhode Island and finally to New Bedford, MA where he received the help of Nathan and Polly Johnson, well known African American abolitionists. It is in New Bedford that Douglass and his bride, Anna began their life together and raised their young family.

Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

In 1847, Brown wrote the "Narrative of William W.

In 1847, Brown wrote the "Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave," which went through four American and five British editions in its first three years after publication. At this time, Brown worked for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society and lectured around the country. His family life began to unravel and he went through a difficult divorce. He entrusted the education and care of his two daughters, Clara or Clarissa and Josephine to Nathan Johnson, a well-known African American abolitionist in New Bedford, MA. Brown’s daughters lived at 21 Seventh Street until at least 1850. Between 1849 and 1854, he gave more than a thousand speeches in Europe and America and wrote two books. "Three Years in Europe; or, Places I Have Seen and People I Have Met" and "Clotel, or, the President's Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States." “Clotel” is considered the first African American novel.

Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Meet Elizabeth Carter Brooks, an Educator, Archite

Meet Elizabeth Carter Brooks, an Educator, Architect, Social Activist with New Bedford roots! Learn about the rich Black History of incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Meet Amelia Piper, an abolitionist with New Bedfor

Meet Amelia Piper, an abolitionist with New Bedford roots! Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Meet Alfred Gomes, a law pioneer and staunch activ

Meet Alfred Gomes, a law pioneer and staunch activist with New Bedford roots! Learn about the rich Black History of these incredible important figures and more by visiting www.nbhistoricalsociety.org

Happy Black History Month from the New Bedford His

Happy Black History Month from the New Bedford Historical Society! Please be on the lookout for some of own Black History right here from New Bedford daily for the entire month of February.
Please like, comment and share our New Bedford Historical Society page and be sure to visit https://nbhistoricalsociety.org/ for updates and more.

Last but not least, Women’s History Month highli

Last but not least, Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Consuelo M. Sousa and Jane C. Waters (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more! We hope you enjoyed our highlights this month

#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Amelia Piper and Emma Louise Piper (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Carrie Lee and Mary Hudson Olney (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Alberta Mae Knox and Ellen Kempton (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Harriet Jacobs and Mary J. “Polly” Johnson (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Rosamond Guinn and Jennie Horne (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Geraldine Gomes and Martha Bush Gray (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project goes to Rosetta Douglass and Juan Bennett Drummond (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalin

Women’s History Month highlight from the @whalingmuseum ‘Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast’ project, goes to Lena Britto and Lydia Grinnell Brown (swipe)

Visit the link in our bio to read more!
#nbwhalingmuseum #lighttheway #nbma #newbedford #womenshistorymonth

Load More Follow on Instagram

Quick Historical Links

Massmoments.org – An Electronic Almanac of Massachusetts History

The Black Past – An Online Reference Guide to African American History

Mass Memory Road Show – Gallery of Family and Community History in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Underground Railroad related:
www.nps.gov – National Parks Service
www.davidrugglescenter.org

Help support the New Bedford Historical Society
continue its mission and bring value to our community.