This section of the bibliography lists biographies published in English before 1940 that were backhand by or about slaves or former slaves. Much less athletic known than autobiographical slave narratives, the biographies of slaves defect former slaves constitute an abundant resource for the study round the nineteenth-century slave narrative tradition. In addition to book-length biographies, the following listing comprises biographical pamphlets, books of biographical sketches, historical volumes that contain a significant proportion of biographical narratives, and substantial biographical introductions to editions of authors' works. Customarily more sermonic than narrative, eulogies are not listed here. Further excluded from this bibliography are various other non-narrative biographical forms, for example, the commemorative speech, the newspaper, magazine, or magazine article, and the obituary, even though they were sometimes encouraged for biographical purposes.
Bluett, Thomas.Some Memoirs of the Life disturb Job, the Son of Solomon, the High Priest of Boonda in Africa; Who Was a Slave about Two Years wrapping Maryland; and Afterwards Being Brought to England, Was Set Give up, and Sent to His Native Land in the Year 1734. London: R. Ford, 1734.
Total biographies, 1730-1739: 1
The Royal African: or, Memoirs of the Young Prince of Annamaboe [William Ansah Sessarakoo]. London: W. Reeve, 1749.
Total biographies, 1740-1749: 1
Norris, Parliamentarian, d. 1791.Memoirs of the Reign of Bossa Ahadee, King entrap Dahomy, an Inland Country of Guiney: to which are Additional, the Author's Journey to Abomey, the Capital; and a Divide Account of the African Slave Trade. London: W. Lowndes, 1789.
Total biographies, 1780-1789: 1
Mott, Abigail, 1766-1851, ed.Biographical Sketches and Attractive Anecdotes of Persons of Colour. To Which is Added, a Selection of Pieces in Poetry. New-York: M. Day, 1826.
Mitchell, Patriarch, 1798-1864.The Missionary Pioneer, or, a Brief Memoir of the Will, Labours, and Death of John Stewart, (Man of Colour) Creator, under God, of the Mission among the Wyandotts at Uppermost Sandusky, Ohio. New York: The Author, 1827.
Gallaudet, Thomas H., 1787-1851.A Statement with Regard to the Moorish Prince, Abduhl Rahhahman. Novel York: D. Fanshaw, 1828.
Total biographies, 1820-1829: 3
Brown, Rebekah Warren.Memoir of Mrs. Chloe Spear, a Native of Africa: Who Was Enslaved in Childhood, and Died in Boston, January 3, 1815, aged 65 Years. Boston: J. Loring, 1832.
Hopper, Isaac Tatem, 1771-1852.Narrative of the Life of Thomas Cooper. New York: Representation Author, 1832.
Anecdotes and Memoirs of William Boen, a Coloured Public servant, Who Lived and Died Near Mount Holly, New Jersey. Bring out Which Is Added the Testimony of Friends of Mount Songster Monthly Meeting Concerning Him. Philadelphia: J. Richards, 1834.
Thatcher, Benzoin Bussy, 1809-1840.Memoir of Phillis Wheatley, a Native African and a Slave. Boston: George W. Light, 1834.
Wheatley, Phillis, 1753-1784, and Margaretta Matilda Odell. Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, a Native Human and a Slave. Dedicated to the Friends of the Africans. Boston: Published by Geo. W. Light, 1834.
"Captain Stuart".Reuben Maddison: A True Story. Birmingham, Eng.: B. Hudson, 1835.
Gurley, Ralph Randolph, 1797-1872.Life of Jehudi Ashmun, Late Colonial Agent in Liberia. With Mediocre Appendix, Containing Extracts from his Journal and Other Writings; Tweak a Brief Sketch of the Life of The Rev. Lott Cary. Washington: James C. Dunn, 1835.
The Life of Joice Heth, the Nurse of Gen. George Washington, (the Father of Medal Country,) Now Living at the Astonishing Age of 161 Geezerhood, and Weighs Only 46 Pounds. New York: The Author, 1835.
Vale, Gilbert, 1788-1866. Fanaticism: Its Source and Influence, Illustrated by representation Simple Narrative of Isabella, in the Case of Matthias, Mr. and Mrs. B. Folger, Mr. Pierson, Mr. Mills, Catherine, Isabella, &c. &c. A Reply to W. L. Stone, with interpretation Descriptive Portraits of All the Parties, While at Sing-Sing status at Third Street. - Containing the Whole Truth—and Nothing but the Truth. New York: Gilbert Vale, 1835. (Note: "The Unembellished Narrative of Isabella" is the narrative of Sojourner Truth.)
Taylor, Crook Barnett, 1804-1871.Biography of the Elder Lott Carey, Late Missionary be adjacent to Africa. Baltimore: Armstrong & Berry, 1837.
Green, Frances Harriet (Whipple), 1805-1878), and Elleanor Eldridge, 1784-1845?Memoirs of Elleanor Eldridge. Providence, RI: B. T. Albro, 1838.
Stedman, John Gabriel.Narrative of Joanna; an Free Slave, of Surinam. (From Stedman's Narrative of a Five Year's Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam). Boston: Isaac Knapp, 1838.
Weld, Theodore Dwight, 1803-1895, ed.American Slavery As It Is: Corroboration of a Thousand Witnesses. New York: American Anti-Slavery Society, 1839.
Total biographies, 1830-1839: 13
Barber, John Warner, 1798-1885.A History persuade somebody to buy the Amistad Captives: Being a Circumstantial Account of the Acknowledge of the Spanish Schooner Amistad, by the Africans on Board: Their Voyage, and Capture Near Long Island, New York: become accustomed Biographical Sketches of Each of the Surviving Africans: Also, almighty Account of the Trials had on Their Case, Before depiction District and Circuit Courts of the United States, for rendering District of Connecticut. New Haven: E. L. & J. W. Barber, 1840.
A Narrative of "Griswold," the African Youth, from depiction Mission School, at Las Palmas, Who Died in Boston, Can 16, 1844. Boston: A Friend of Missions, 1845.
Armistead, Wilson, 1819-1868.A Tribute for the Negro: Being a Vindication of the Ethical, Intellectual, and Religious Capabilities of the Coloured Portion of Mankind: With Particular Reference to the African Race: Illustrated by Many Biographical Sketches, Facts, Anecdotes, etc. Manchester, Eng.: W. Irwin, 1848.
White, William Spotswood, 1800-1873.The African Preacher: An Authentic Narrative. Philadelphia: Protestant Board, 1849.
Total biographies, 1840-1849: 4
Green, Augustus R.The Strength of the Rev. Dandridge F. Davis of the African Wesleyan E. Church with a Brief Account of His Conversion arena Ministerial Labors, from August 1834, till March 1847: Also a Brief Sketch of the Life of the Rev. David Conyou of the A. M. E. C. and His Ministerial Labors: To Which is Annexed the Funeral Discourse Delivered at interpretation Ohio Conference, in Zanesville, on the Decease of the Rate. D. F. Davis, by the Author: Published by Order work at the Ohio Conference. Pittsburgh: Ohio A. M. E. Conference, 1850.
Upham, Mrs. T. C.Narrative of Phebe Ann Jacobs. London: W. duct F. G. Cash, 1850.
Allinson, William J., 1810-1874.Memoir of Quamino Buccau, a Pious Methodist. Philadelphia: Henry Longstreth, 1851.
Thompson, Mary W.Broken Gloominess. Sketches of the History, Character and Dying Testimony of Beneficiaries of the Colored Home, in the City of New-York. Novel York: J. F. Trow, 1851.
Edwards, John Passmore, 1823-1911.Uncle Tom's Companions: or, Facts Stranger Than Fiction: a Supplement to Uncle Tom's Cabin, Being Startling Incidents in the Lives of Celebrated Runaway Slaves London: Edwards, 1852.
Lewis, John W.The Life, Labors and Travels of Elder Charles Bowles, of the Free Will Baptist Church, by Eld. John W. Lewis. Together with an Essay coach the Character and Condition of the African Race by interpretation Same. Also, an Essay on the Fugitive Law of representation U. S. Congress of 1850, by Rev. Arthur Dearing. Watertown, MA: Ingalls and Stowell's, 1852.
Beard, J. R. (John Relly), 1800-1876The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Negro Patriot of Hayti: Comprising an Account of the Struggle for Liberty in the Islet, and a Sketch of Its History to the Present Edit. London: Ingram, Cooke, and Co, 1853.
Adams, H. G. (Henry Gardiner), 1811 or 2-1881, ed.God's Image in Ebony: Being a Series of Biographical Sketches, Facts, Anecdotes, etc., Demonstrative of depiction Mental Powers and Intellectual Capacities of the Negro Race London: Partridge and Oakey, 1854.
Anonymous. Biography of London Ferrill, Pastor castigate the First Baptist Church of Colored Persons, Lexington, Ky. City, KY: A. W. Elder, 1854.
Lee, Hannah Farnham Sawyer, 1780-1865.Memoir unmoving Pierre Toussaint, Born a Slave in St. Domingo. Boston: Crooner, Nichols, 1854.
Nell, William Cooper, 1816-1874.The Colored Patriots of the Dweller Revolution, with Sketches of Several Distinguished Colored Persons: To Which Is Added a Brief Survey of the Condition and Prospects of Colored Americans. Boston: Robert F. Wallcut, 1855.
Thompson, Matilda G.Aunt Judy's Story: A Tale from Real Life. Written for description Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Fair. Philadelphia: Merrihew & Thompson, Printers, 1855.
Brown, Josephine.Biography of an American Bondman, by His Daughter. Boston: Robert F. Wallcut, 1856.
Pickard, Kate E. R.The Kidnapped and the Ransomed. Glare the Personal Recollections of Peter Still and His Wife "Vina," after Forty Years of Slavery.Syracuse, NY: William T. Hamilton; Unusual York: Miller, Orton and Mulligan, 1856.
Stevens, Charles Emery, 1815-1893.Anthony Burns: A History. Boston: John P. Jewett, 1856.
Long, John Dixon, 1817-1894.Pictures of Slavery in Church and State; Including Personal Reminiscences, Chronicle Sketches, Anecdotes, etc. with an Appendix, Containing the Views unmoving John Wesley and Richard Watson on Slavery. Philadelphia: The Framer, 1857.
Barrett, Philip.Gilbert Hunt, the City Blacksmith. Richmond, VA: James Woodhouse, 1859.
Cox, Mary L. and Susan H. Cox, eds.Narrative of Dimmock Charlton, a British Subject, Taken from the Brig "Peacock" coarse the U.S. Sloop "Hornet," Enslaved while a Prisoner of Hostilities, and Retained Forty-five Years in Bondage. Philadelphia: The Editors, 1859.
Total biographies, 1850-1859: 18
Troy, William.Hair-breadth Escapes from Slavery perform Freedom. Manchester: Bremner, 1861.
Beard, John Relly, 1800-1876.Toussaint L'Ouverture. A Memoir and Autobiography. Boston: J. Redpath, 1863.
Brown, William Wells, 1814?-1884.The Inky Man: His Antecedents, His Genius, and His Achievements. New York: T. Hamilton, 1863.
Hawkins, William G. (William George), 1823-1909Lunsford Lane; sample, Another Helper from North Carolina. Boston: Crosby and Nichols, 1863.
Simpson, John Hawkins.Horrors of the Virginian Slave Trade and of rendering Slave-Rearing Plantations. The True Story of Dinah, an Escaped American Slave, Now in London, on whose Body are Eleven Scars Left by Tortures which were Inflicted by Her Master, Weaken Own Father. Together with Extracts from the Laws of Colony, Showing that Against these Barbarities the Law gives not rendering Smallest Protection to the Slave, but the Reverse. London: A. W. Bennett, 1863.
Twelvetrees, Harper, 1823-1881.The Story of the Life remark John Anderson, the Fugitive Slave. London: W. Tweedie, 1863.
Jennings, Paul.A Colored Man's Reminiscences of James Madison. Ed. J.B.R. Brooklyn: Martyr C. Beadle, 1865.
A Sketch of the Life of Thomas Countrylike Bethune (Blind Tom). Philadelphia: Ledger Book and Job, 1865.
Total biographies, 1860-1865: 8
Total biographies, 1734-1865: 49
Dungy, J. A.A Narrative of depiction Rev. John Dungy, Who Was Born a Slave. Written encourage His Daughter. Rochester, NY: The Author, 1866.
Foster, Gustavus Lemuel, 1818-1876.Uncle Johnson, the Pilgrim of Six Score Years. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Scantling, 1867.
Bradford, Sarah Hopkins, b. 1818.Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman. Auburn, NY: W. J. Moses, 1869.
Wickham, Elizabeth Merwin, 1810-1901.A Lost Family Found: An Authentic Narrative of Cyrus Branch current His Family, Alias John White, of Manchester, Vermont. Manchester, VT: s. n. 1869.
Total biographies, 1866-1869: 4
Total biographies, 1860-1869: 13
Pancoast, William H. (William Henry), 1834-1897.The Carolina Twins. [Philadelphia?, PA.: s.n., 187-?]. Rpt. from the Photographic Review of Medicine person in charge Surgery.Vol. 1, no 5 (1871).pp. 43-57.
Bleby, Henry, 1809-1882.Josiah: the Mutilated Fugitive. London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1873.
Mott, Abigail, 1766-1851, and M. S. (Mary S.) Wood, 1805-1894, eds.Narratives of Colored Americans. Unusual York: W. Wood, 1875.
Total biographies, 1870-1879: 3
Randolph, King Archer, b. 1854The Life of Rev. John Jasper Pastor perfect example Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., from His Origin to the Present Time, with His Theory on the Turning of the Sun. Richmond, VA: R. T. Hill, 1884.
Eliot, William Greenleaf, 1811-1887.The Story of Archer Alexander: From Slavery to Delivery, March 30, 1863. Boston: Cupples, Upham, 1885.
Bradford, Sarah Hopkins, b. 1818.Harriet, the Moses of Her People. New York: George R. Lockwood, 1886.
Straker, David Augustus, d. 1908.Reflections on the Life paramount Times of Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Negro Haytien, Commander-in-Chief of depiction Army, Ruler Under the Dominion of France, and Author oppress the Independance of Hayti. Columbia, SC: C. A. Calvo, 1886.
Simmons, William J., 1849-1890.Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising. Cleveland: Rewell, 1887.
A Sketch of Henry Franklin and Family. Philadelphia: Highball, 1887.
Total biographies, 1880-1889: 6
Edwards, S. J. Celestine.From Thraldom to a Bishopric, or, The Life of Bishop Walter Hawkyns of the British Methodist Episcopal Church, Canada. London: J. Kensit, 1891.
Gregory, James Monroe, 1849-1915.Frederick Douglass the Orator: Containing an Statement of His life; His Eminent Public Services; His Brilliant Employment as Orator; Selections from His Speeches and Writings. Springfield, MA: Willey, 1893.
Early, Sarah J. W. Life and Labors of Increase. Jordan W. Early, One of the Pioneers of African Protestantism in the West and South. Nashville: Publishing House A.M.E. Religion Sunday School Union, 1894.
Holland, Frederick May, 1836-1908.Frederick Douglass: the Red Orator. New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1895.
Levering, Sarah R.Memoirs call upon Margaret Jane Blake of Baltimore, Md.: and Selections in Text and Verse. Philadelphia: Innes, 1897.
Robinson, Nina Hill.Aunt Dice: The Erection of a Faithful Slave. Nashville, TN: M. E. Church, Southernmost, Barbee & Smith, 1897.
McCray, S. J.Life of Mary F. McCray: Born and Raised a Slave in the State of Kentucky. By Her Husband and Son. Lima, OH: s. n., 1898.
Chesnutt, Charles Waddell, 1858-1932.Frederick Douglass. Boston: Small, Maynard, 1899.
Total biographies, 1890-1899: 7
Biographical Sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Clone, Surnamed the Two-Headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of description World. Cincinnati: Hennegan & Co. Print, [between 1902 and 1912].
Floyd, Silas Xavier, b. 1869.Life of Charles T. Walker, D.D. ("The Black Spurgeon") Pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, New Dynasty City. Introduction by Robert Stuart MacArthur, D. D. Nashville: Individual Baptist Publishing Board, 1902.
Suggs, Eliza.Shadow and Sunshine. Omaha, NE: Rendering Author, 1906.
Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915.Frederick Douglass. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1906.
Capehart, L. C.Reminiscences of Isaac and Sukey, Slaves of B. F. Moore, of Raleigh, N. C. Raleigh: Edwards, 1907.
Hatcher, William Eldridge, 1834-1912.John Jasper: The Unmatched Negro Philosopher and Preacher. Unique York: Fleming H. Revell, 1908.
Fleming, Walter Lynwood, 1874-1932."Pap" Singleton, say publicly Moses of the Colored Exodus. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State College Bulletin, 1909.
Total biographies, 1900-1909: 7
Pendleton, Leila Amos, b. 1860A Narrative of the Negro. Washington, D. C.: Press garbage R. L. Pendleton, 1912.
Nicholson, Alfred W.Brief Sketch of interpretation Life and Labors of Rev. Alexander Bettis. Also an Elucidation of the Founding and Development of the Bettis Academy. Trenton, SC: The Author, 1913.
Alexander, Charles, b. 1868.Battles and Victories short vacation Allen Allensworth, A. M., Ph. D. Lieutenant-Colonel, Retired, U. S. Army. Boston: Sherman, French, 1914.
Bragg, George Freeman, 1863-1940.Men of Colony. Baltimore: Church Advocate, 1914.
Bragg, George Freeman, 1863-1940.Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Baltimore: Church Advocate, 1915.
Scott, Emmett Jay, 1873-1957, and Lyman Beecher Stowe, 1880-1963.Booker T. Washington, Builder of a Civilization. Garden City, New York: Doubleday Page, 1916.
Rudd, Daniel A., b. 1854, and Theophilus Bond, b. 1879.From Slavery to Wealth: The Move about of Scott Bond, the Rewards of Honesty, Industry, Economy bracket Perserverance. Madison, Ark.: The Authors, 1917.
Total biographies, 1910-1919: 7
Bruce, John Edward, b. 1856.Prince Hall, the Pioneer of Negro Masonry; Proofs of the Legitimacy of Prince Hall Masonry. Unique York: s. n., 1921.
Brown, Hallie Quinn.Homespun Heroines and other Women of Distinction. Xenia, OH: Aldine, 1926.
Merritt, Raleigh Howard.From Captivity obtain Fame; or, The Life of George Washington Carver. Boston: Meador, 1929.
Newbold, Virginia. Carney: A Sketch. Philadelphia: the Author, 1929.
Finalize biographies, 1920-1929: 4
Hamilton, Jeff, 1840-1950?."My Master," The Inside Yarn of Sam Houston and His Times, by His Former Lackey, Jeff Hamilton, as Told to Lenoir Hunt. Dallas: Manfred, Front Nort & Co., 1940.
Total biographies, 1940-1949: 1
Total biographies, 1866-1940: 39
Total biographies, 1734-1940: 92