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Who’s Who in Newspapers – Robert Smalls edition…
March 3, 2025 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The 9th installment of Who’s Who in Newspapers
Let’s explore for a moment. Would you leave your small child alone in your car with the engine running? Might you ask your best friend, who happens to be a recovering alcoholic, to watch your house – and especially your liquor cabinet, while your family is on vacation? Would you have your dog guard the steaks you’re grilling so you can take a bathroom break? Continuing in the food category (yes, I’m hungry), would you leave a tray of fresh-baked cookies out in the open during your 5-year-old’s birthday celebration and leave for 30 minutes expecting all would still be present upon your return? I’m guessing the answer to all of the above would be a resounding “NO, of course not.” In fact, “What were you thinking?” would be any observer’s reasonable response.
How about this one? If you were the captain of a confederate vessel holding a number of “quite capable” slaves, would you and a large portion of the crew leave them unshackled and largely unguarded so you could enjoy a bit of shore-leave? Before you say, “No capta07in would be so foolish”, it would be worth your time to read about Robert Smalls‘ and his enslaved companions’ escape from the Charleston Harbor on the USS Planter during the Civil War. An article printed in the New-York Tribune date May 24, 1862 is shown below. However, after (hopefully) enjoying the article, it might be worth your time to read more about the event and this fascinating man. Two possibilities are the brief summary found on Wikipedia and/or author Cate Lineberry’s, “Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape from Slavery to Union Hero“. Once again, I am grateful much about him was chronicled in the newspapers of his day – making him an easy edition to “Who’s Who in Newspapers”.
Who’s Who in Newspapers? Denmark Vesey edition…
December 16, 2024 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The 8th installment of Who’s Who in Newspapers
Denmark Vesey… Certainly not a household name, but how about Frederick Douglass, John Brown, and Nat Turner? These and more credit the Denmark Vesey incident (a planned slave revolt) as a key cog in their inspiration to risk their lives in order to help free the Southern slaves. The Niles’ Register dated July 13, 1822 contains the following is a brief article regarding the fate of those involved:
Douglass used Vesey, a free black man, as a rallying cry to recruit Black men to fight in the Union Army during the Civil War by declaring, “Remember Denmark Vesey of Charleston”. Vesey’s plot to arm enslaved people against their enslavers and temporarily liberate Charleston inspired abolitionists and fueled anti-slavery activity throughout the United States – many viewing him as a hero and martyr for freedom.
Note: In total, the courts convicted 67 men of conspiracy and hanged 35, including Vesey, in July 1822. Thirty-one men were deported, 27 were reviewed and acquitted, and 38 were questioned and released. You can read more about the incident itself at: The Denmark Vesey Incident.
Who’s Who in Newspapers? Pamela Sparhawk edition…
March 22, 2024 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The 7th installment of Who’s Who in Newspapers:
Thanks to Swann Auction Galleries, we discovered another fascinating but unheralded name which appeared in three 1817 issues of the Columbian Centinel (see a photo of the notice below). Swann staff provided the following background:
Pamela Sparhawk was born circa 1761 in Africa, was captured as a young girl and brought to Boston in slavery and was granted her freedom during the American Revolution. She had been separated from her brother by her original owner, but miraculously reconnected with him in Boston, where he owned property and was living under the name Samuel Bean. When Samuel died in 1816, Pamela petitioned the court to be recognized as his heir. Her petition ran three times in the Columbian Centinel newspaper, telling the story of her life: “Pamela Sparhawk of Boston . . . is a native of Africa, and was brought from thence to the West-Indies by a slave trader . . . and was a slave in the family of Rev. Mr. Merriam, of Newton, until the American Revolution. . . Samuel Bean acknowledged her to be his sister and was satisfied of the fact, but it would be difficult if not impossible for her in a court of law to establish her claim . . . in consequence of the unhappy circumstance, which will be easily perceived.” The notices were signed in type with her mark, a sideways capital “X.” The statement was witnessed by Congressman Timothy Fuller (father of the important feminist author Margaret Fuller), but it apparently went unheeded by the General Court.
Pamela Sparhawk’s life has recently been reconstructed and celebrated by the Historic Newton organization in an online exhibition, “Finding Pamela: Writing a New History,” and was described in the Boston Globe on 30 June 2021.
The link to the auction (which at the time of this post was still in the future) is:
SWANN Auction #2663 – The petition of formerly enslaved woman Pamela Sparhawk
Thankfully we had an issue with this coverage as well, but the greatest gain was the research which Swann’s offering inspired. In less than 15 minutes we were able to locate *background information on Pamela which we found qui te interesting.
If you’re curiosity has been piqued to the point where you decide to discover more about her through the following link, please note the additional related information shown below the heading: “Who was Pamela Sparhawk?” Enjoy.
FINDING PAMELA
Who’s Who in Newspapers? Karl Marx edition…
August 23, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The 6th installment of Who’s Who in Newspapers:
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton… Babe Ruth, Jesse Owens, Vince Lombardi… John Wayne, James Dean, Katharine Hepburn – these individuals, among many, are easily recognizable. However, there are quite a few historical figures who, while having adorned the pages of many a newspaper, are far from household names, or, if they are, their connection with historic newspapers might be a bit of a surprise. Such is the case with Karl Marx. While his name is well-known, few are aware he was a foreign correspondent for the New York Tribune before his name became synonymous with socialism and communism.
Feel free to peruse the following chronological list of newspapers to explore his articles, and a few others which were written about him:
KARL MARX