The undersigned, women of the United States above the age of eighteen years
Subtitle: earnestly pray that your honorable body will pass, at the earliest practicable day, an act emancipating all persons of African descent held to involuntary service or labor in the United States
Series: Slavery, Abolition, Emancipation, and Freedom: Primary Sources from Houghton Library
Publisher: publisher not identified
Published: 1863
Place of publication: United States?
Language: eng
Subjects: African Americans; Antislavery movements; Women; Societies and clubs; Slavery; History; War work; United States. Congress; Women's Loyal National League
Notes: Caption title.

At head of sheet: Women's.

Petition form, addressed "To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States". Blank ruled area for names and residences below caption title text.

Emancipation petition, originated at the Women's Loyal National League founding convention in 1863; later [the same year?] a men's petition was issued by the League, with almost the same wording and design, except the heading reads "Men's" and the text over the signature form begins "The undersigned, men of the United States above the age of eighteen years".

Charles Sumner, Senator from Massachusetts, presented the first installment of the petition, with 100,000 signatures, to Congress on February 9, 1864; his speech is known as "The Prayer of One Hundred Thousand."

No restrictions on access copy. Unrestricted online access

Donor not identified; annotation on verso with date and "Gratis".

Folder also contains corresponding blank Men's petition, with same donation date and annotation on verso. Women's petition marked US 102.8 (66) (a), men's petition marked US 102.8 (66) (b).