The American Colonization Society was formed in 1816 with the aim of helping freed people to emigrate from the United States to Africa. While attempting to remain neutral during the abolition debate, the Society drew support and attacks from both pro- and anti-slavery factions. After the Civil War, the Society continued work to aid emigration to Liberia and to support education and human welfare services in Liberia.
The records of the American Colonization Society were presented to the Library of Congress in 1913 and augmented in subsequent years with additional records. They span the years 1792-1964, with the bulk of material concentrated in the period 1823-1912. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence to and from the Society but financial and business records are also included.
Location
Library Annex Cabinets E448 .A53
Format
Microfilm
Arrangement
Ser. 1, v. 1-298. Incoming Correspondence, 1819-1917
Ser. 2, v. 1-54, Outgoing Correspondence, Letterbooks,1839-1912
Ser. 3, v. 1-9, General Correspondence, 1909-1965
Ser. 4, v.1-92, Financial papers, 1818-1963
Ser. 5, v. 1-57, Business Papers, 1816-1963
Ser. 6, v. 1-23, Subject file, 1792-1964
Ser. 7, v. 1-10, Miscellany, 1835-1935
Items
330 reels of microfilm
Publication
Library of Congress, 1974
Indexes and Guides
The reel guide can be found in Library Annex LISA at call number E448 .A53 as well as online.
