The Tinderbox of the Civil War: 1830s Abolitionism in Connecticut | Opening Reception

Join us for the Opening Reception of The Tinderbox of the Civil War: 1830s Abolitionism in Connecticut. Enjoy a conversation and gallery tour led by Special Collections Librarian Cecily Dyer.

While many people have heard of the Underground Railroad, few are familiar with the brave men and women who united in the antebellum period to publicly demand an immediate end to slavery. Known as abolitionists, their interracial political movement surged in the 1830s in opposition both to slavery and to colonization societies, which sought the emigration of Blacks to Africa. In contrast, the abolitionists’ goal of an integrated society was seen by many as unacceptably radical, even in Northern states like Connecticut. 

The Tinderbox of the Civil War: 1830s Abolitionism in Connecticut reveals forgotten stories of these abolitionists who opposed racial injustice through political organizing, education, and legal means, all while facing fervent opposition and mob violence. The exhibition features publications from Pequot Library’s Special Collections including Catherine Beecher’s 1837 response to Angelina Grimké’s abolitionist efforts; the Charter Oak anti-slavery newspaper; and reports from the local trials of educator Prudence Crandall and the freedom seekers of the Amistad. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the legacy of these men and women and consider the ways in which their efforts continue to inspire.

This exhibition will remain on view from January 25 to May 10, 2025.