Vigilant Association of Philadelphia

The Vigilant Association of Philadelphia was an abolitionist organization founded in August 1837 in Philadelphia to "create a fund to aid colored persons in distress".[1] The initial impetus came from Robert Purvis, who had served on a previous Committee of Twelve in 1834, and his father-in-law, businessman James Forten.[2][3]

Founder Robert Purvis in the 1840s
Co-founder James Forten

History

Its executive was the Vigilant Committee of Philadelphia and its first president was a black dentist, James McCrummell. Other abolitionists who helped included John Greenleaf Whittier, who helped form the committee and promoted the association in his newspaper Pennsylvania Freeman.[2][3]

There were five members of the acting committee for the Vigilant Association of Philadelphia, which included Nathaniel W. Depee, William Still, Jacob C. White, Passmore Williamson, and Charles Wise.[4][5][6]

In June 1842, future writer Harriet Jacobs was among the fugitive slaves who were aided by the Association.[7]

References

Citations
  1. Foner, Eric (2 February 2016). Gateway to freedom : the hidden history of the underground railroad. ISBN 978-0-393-35219-1. OCLC 1086231994.
  2. Boromé 1968.
  3. Tomek 2015.
  4. Sanders, Nancy I. (2012-06-01). Frederick Douglass for Kids: His Life and Times, with 21 Activities. Chicago Review Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-61374-357-7.
  5. Switala, William J. (2008-08-21). Underground Railroad in Pennsylvania. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-4912-1.
  6. Still, William (2022-02-15). "Organization of the Vigilance Committee". Toronto Metropolitan University Pressbooks.
  7. Jean Fagan Yellin: Harriet Jacobs. A Life. New York 2004, p. 66.

Sources
  • Boromé, Joseph (1968), "The Vigilant Committee of Philadelphia", Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 92 (3): 320–351, JSTOR 20090197
  • Tomek, Beverly C. (2015), "Vigilance Committees", The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia, Rutgers University


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