Sarah Mapps Douglass
(September 9, 1806 – September 8, 1882)
She was a prominent American educator, abolitionist, accomplished writer, and a captivating public lecturer. Among her notable achievements, her hand-painted images adorning her written letters stand out as potentially the earliest surviving instances of signed paintings by an African-American woman. These remarkable artworks are preserved within the Cassey Dickerson Album, a precious compilation of 19th-century friendship letters exchanged among a circle of remarkable women.
Early life and family
Sarah Douglass was born into a prominent abolitionist family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the only daughter of Robert Douglass, a respected baker, and Grace Bustill Douglass, a milliner and teacher. Her family’s commitment to the abolitionist cause ran deep, with her grandfather, Cyrus Bustill, being an early member of the Free African Society, a pioneering African-American charitable organization. Growing up, Sarah enjoyed the privileges of Philadelphia’s elite society, benefiting from extensive private tutoring during her formative years.
Sarah Douglass was part of the renowned Bustill family of Philadelphia, counting her brother, the artist Robert Douglass Jr., among its members. They jointly shared advertising space at his shop on Arch Street, which also served as the family residence. Additionally, her cousin was the esteemed artist David Bustill Bowser.
In the early 1820s, Sarah pursued higher education, followed by a brief teaching stint in New York City. Her teaching career took root in 1825 when she began instructing at a school in Philadelphia, co-founded by her mother and James Forten, a wealthy African-American sailmaker. This institution held special significance for Sarah, as she had been a student there during her childhood. In 1833, she briefly taught at the Free African School for Girls before establishing her own school catering to African-American girls. Sarah swiftly gained recognition as a gifted teacher in both the sciences and the arts, known for setting high academic standards for her students.
By 1838, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society assumed control of her school, appointing Sarah Douglass as its headmaster. In 1854, her school merged with the Institute for Colored Youth, now known as Cheyney State University, located on Lombard Street. Sarah Douglass assumed the role of head of the primary department, a position she held until her retirement in 1877. Throughout her teaching career, she remained dedicated to providing young girls with equal opportunities to learn subjects that had traditionally been reserved for boys, including mathematics and sciences. Sarah’s personal passion for various sciences was evident in her classroom, where she maintained a natural history cabinet filled with an assortment of shells and minerals for her students to explore and study.
Early Activism and Support for The Liberator In 1831, at the age of twenty-five, Sarah Douglass embarked on her journey as an activist. Her initial endeavor involved organizing the collection of funds to support The Liberator, a prominent abolitionist newspaper edited by William Lloyd Garrison. Notably, Sarah did not limit her involvement to financial contributions but played a crucial role in raising funds to sustain this influential publication.
Founding of the Female Literary Association (FLA) During the same year, Sarah Douglass played a pivotal role in establishing the Female Literary Association (FLA). This association brought together African-American women who shared a deep commitment to enhancing their skills and fostering stronger connections with their enslaved sisters. These Black literary societies, emerging in Northern urban centers during the late 1820s and early 1830s, shared a common goal: leveraging reading and writing as powerful tools for knowledge acquisition, identity assertion, information preservation, and communication within the diverse Black community. This community spanned from the literate to the semi-literate to the illiterate.
The Mission of Black Literary Societies These societies were grounded in the belief that, for the well-being and survival of the community, individuals needed to unite in larger groups. These groups would not only foster a sense of national identity and collective spirit but also disseminate essential knowledge within the Black community, encompassing both the free and the enslaved.
Sarah Douglass’s Leadership in the FLA Sarah Douglass emerged as a prominent leader within the FLA, which stood as a pioneering social library, especially for African-American women. The FLA provided a platform for Black women to share significant literary works they discovered, as well as their own writings.
Advocating for Education and Equality The Female Literary Association was a staunch advocate for self-improvement through education, catering to both the literate and illiterate, and extending its reach to both the free and enslaved members of the Black community. Their central aim was to challenge prevailing white notions of intellectual inferiority among African Americans. In their view, the “cultivation of intellectual powers” represented the highest human pursuit, bestowed upon individuals as divine gifts. Therefore, they considered it their duty, as women and African Americans, to use these talents to break down barriers between their community and white society. Their collective goal was to advocate for equal rights and advance the status of their race.
Weekly Meetings and Literary Contributions The Female Literary Association convened weekly meetings, primarily dedicated to reading and recitation, with the overarching objective of achieving “mutual improvement in moral and literary pursuits.” Notably, nearly all members would contribute original pieces, which they placed anonymously into a collection box. A committee would then assess these contributions. Sarah Douglass herself was a prolific writer of both prose and poetry, much of which found publication in outlets such as the “Ladies’ Department” of The Liberator, The Colored American, and the Anglo-African Magazine. She often used pseudonyms like “Zillah” and possibly “Sophonisba.”
A Transformative Call to Activism In an address to the Association in 1832 during a “mental feast,” Sarah Douglass recounted the transformative experience that led her to activism within the Female Literary Association. She reflected on how her feelings about slavery had evolved over the course of a single year, emphasizing the profound impact of witnessing the oppressor’s presence near her peaceful home. This awakening led her to reject complacency, discard the lethargy that had enveloped her, and commit to using every effort at her disposal to elevate the character and status of her wronged and neglected race.
Founding Member of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society In 1833, Sarah Douglass, alongside her mother, became a founding member of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. This biracial society embraced racial diversity from its inception, uniting African-American members like Douglass with white women members such as Lucretia Mott. The society’s core mission encompassed two critical objectives: the immediate and unconditional abolition of slavery, without compensating slaveholders, and the attainment of equal civil and religious rights for Black individuals, on par with their white counterparts in the United States.
Formation of the Constitution On December 14, 1833, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society formally adopted its Constitution, which articulated their belief that, as professing Christians, they had a duty to openly express their abhorrence of the flagrant injustice and profound sin of slavery. They committed themselves to achieving this through unified and vigorous efforts. The society welcomed any woman who shared these convictions and actively contributed to its mission.
Advocacy and Education The members of the Society actively engaged with several antislavery publications, including William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator and The Emancipator. These publications were circulated among society members and their broader social circles. Additionally, the Society curated a modest library comprising antislavery books and pamphlets, which they used for wider dissemination. In its inaugural year, the society went further by establishing a school dedicated to the education of African-American children. Furthermore, the Society actively promoted the boycott of goods produced through slave labor and vigorously lobbied for emancipation. Their efforts included circulating petitions to Congress advocating for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia and other federal territories, as well as for the suppression of the slave trade between American states.
Leadership and Roles By the year 1840, Sarah Douglass had made significant contributions to the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. She served as a member of the board of directors, actively participated in the committee responsible for annual fairs, worked diligently on the education committee, held pivotal roles as the recording and corresponding secretary, acted as a librarian, and took on managerial responsibilities within the organization.
Medical Studies and Education Between 1853 and 1877, Sarah Douglass embarked on a transformative journey of education. During this period, she dedicated herself to the study of anatomy, female health, and hygiene. She pursued essential medical training at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, marking a historic milestone as the first African-American female student admitted to the institution. Her pursuit of knowledge extended to the Ladies’ Institute of Pennsylvania Medical University. The knowledge and expertise she acquired at these medical institutes profoundly influenced her subsequent endeavors.
Educational Empowerment Inspired by her medical studies and armed with knowledge, Sarah Douglass made a deliberate choice to share her insights. She embarked on a mission to educate and empower African-American women. She achieved this by conducting lectures and teaching evening classes at meetings of the Banneker Institute. Her teachings primarily focused on topics related to physiology and hygiene, essential subjects that she believed could uplift and benefit her fellow African-American women. Through these educational initiatives, Sarah Douglass aimed to equip her community with valuable knowledge for their well-being and advancement.
Marriage to William Douglass and Family Life In 1855, Sarah Douglass entered into matrimony with William Douglass, an African-American rector at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. William was a widower with nine children, and this union expanded their family significantly.
Resumption of Antislavery Activities and Teaching Tragedy struck when Sarah’s husband, William Douglass, passed away in 1861. Following his death, Sarah Douglass made the decision to resume her active involvement in antislavery efforts. Moreover, she returned to teaching full-time, marking a period of renewed dedication to the causes she held dear.
Final Resting Place Sarah Douglass’s life journey came to an end in 1882 in Philadelphia. Her final resting place is in Eden Cemetery, located in Collingdale, Pennsylvania. It is noteworthy that her grave at this cemetery remains unmarked, a poignant reminder of her life’s work and the enduring legacy she left behind.