This site exhibits selected literary works and political writings from the first year of the abolitionist newspaper, The Boston Commonwealth (1862-1896). Though the paper lasted for over thirty years, the focus of this site is on the paper's first year, September 1862-September 1863. Begun mid-Civil War, its first issue published days after the Emancipation Proclamation's official announcement, the paper tracks a close-knit group of New England abolitionist writers as they attempted to mobilize Union patriotism in support of full and immediate emancipation.
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Review of Louisa May Alcott's new edition of Hospital Sketches
The Commonwealth's review of the new edition of Hospital Sketches, originally serialized in the paper
Hymn
By F.B. Sanborn
Sung at the grave of John Brown, on the 4th of July 1860
Hymn memorializing John Brown
Excalibur: A Christmas Story for Anglo-American boys and girls of all ages
By Moncure D. Conway
Children's Christmas story honoring John Brown