Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s Birth: History in the Making

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s birthday (October 9, 1823–June 5, 1893). Shadd Cary  was an antislavery activist, educator, and a trailblazing newspaper editor, journalist, and publisher of the newspaper, The Provincial Freeman. She was born in Delaware and grew up in Philadelphia. Shadd Cary moved to Canada West (Ontario) in 1851 and spent eleven years in the province (1851 - 1863). She had a huge impact on the lives of Black people at the time and left an unforgettable legacy. 

Here are a variety of resources to learn more about Mary Ann Shadd Cary and to teach about her life and significance in classrooms.

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Publications by Mary Ann Shadd Cary
Articles and other writings by Mary Ann Shadd Cary, The Black Abolitionist Archive in The Archive Research Center at The University of Detroit Mercy 
“Images from Archives of Ontario - F 1409 Mary Ann Shadd Cary Fonds,” Wikimedia Commons. 
Library and Archives Canada online documents from the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Collection 

• Bill for Optical Services for D.T. Williamson to the Philadelphia Optical Co., June 7, 1889. (Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s brother in law)
• Constitution of the Provincial Anti-Slavery Union,  August 9, 1854. (listing “Special Agent to organize Auxiliaries: M.A. Shadd” and “Ladies Committee: Miss M.A. Shadd, Treasurer”)
• Microform of this collection (Library and Archives Canada Mary Ann Shadd Cary Collection)
• Naturalization Certificate of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, September 9, 1862. (British North American naturalization)
• Passport Issued to Mary Ann Shadd Cary, February 28, 1865. (for British North America, given at Quebec)
• Portrait of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, ca. 1855-1860. (same picture of Mary Ann Shadd Cary x2)
• Recommendation of Support for the Provincial Freeman, March 4, 1858. (Mentions Mary Ann Shadd Cary as editor and recommends the paper as good quality and deserving of the financial support it is asking for)
• Recruiting Permit for the State of Indiana, August 15, 1864.  (allowing Mary Ann Shadd Cary to recruit for the army throughout the state)
• “To Him Honor, Be It Known,” in The Pioneer Press newspaper, January 1887. (article about the life of David Williamson, Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s brother in law)
• Amelia C. Shadd, Letter from Amelia C. Shadd, Toronto, to David T. Williamson of St. Catherines, July 25, 1854. (she mentions that she is she is receiving many letters as she is  “a substitute for my sister at present”)
• D.T.W. Shadd, Life sketch of David T. Williamson, January 19, 1961. (Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s brother in law)
• D.T.W. Shadd, Life Sketch of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, June 29, 1960.  (timeline of events in her life)
• D.T.W. Shadd, Notes on Other Members of the Family of Mary Shadd, January 17, 1961. (list of all 13 siblings and who came to Canada) 
• D.T.W. Shadd, Rough Notes on Mary Ann Shadd Caary’s Passport and Naturalization Certificate, n.d.  (notes on items donated to the archives and that the age on her passport may indicate she lied about her age)
• Emeline Shadd, Letter from Emeline Shadd, Teacher in Caledon Township, Peel County, Canada West, to Her Sister Mrs. A.C.S. Williamson (nee Amelia C. Shadd) in St. Catherines, Canada West, March 16, 1856. (discusses her [Emeline Shadd] life teaching in Caledon)
• Frederick Douglas, Two letters from Frederick Douglass to Mary Ann Shadd Cary Concerning a Tour of the Reconstructionist South, July 4 1871 and July 5, 1871. 
• John and Annie Peters, Letter to David T. Williamson from John and Annie Peters, December 25, 1852. (Mary Ann Shadd Cary’s brother in law, letter asking him to return and work as they didn’t intend to sell him, letter and transcript)
• Mary A.S. Cary, H.F. Douglass, and I.D. Shadd eds. Circular. Slavery and Humanity, February 1857. (a request for funding for the Freeman)
• Mary Ann Shadd Cary, A Plea for Emigration; or, Notes of Canada West, in Its Moral, Social, and Political Aspect: With Suggestions Respecting Mexico, West Indies, and Vancouver's Island, for the Information of Colored Emigrants, 1852. 

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