Female Anti-Slavery Society

From Salem Links and Lore

The Female Anti-Slavery Society in Salem was active from 1832-1866. They were headquartered at the Lyceum Hall on Church Street.

In 1832, a group of "females of color" in Salem organized the first women's antislavery society in the United States.

It supported secular and Sabbath schools for free blacks and campaigned against slavery. They opposed racial segregation and discrimination in the

northern free states. Two years later, they expanded to include white women and officially re-organized as the Salem Female Anti-Slavery Society.

Though the Remond family was active in this group, many of the members were self-supporting women.

In addition to its antislavery work, they established a sewing school for young back women and girls and raised funds to help sustain

a local black church.

The Society disbanded in January of 1866.

See Also

Female Anti-Slavery Society, Salem, Massachusetts 1832-1866