C.D.C. in memoriam. [Charles Dexter Cleveland]

[N.p., post-1869; before 1880]. Slim Quarto. [4, (blank)], [1-2], 3-18, [2, (blank)]pp, all edges gilt, silk ribbon marker. Three-quarter and cloth; gilt-lettered and with six gilt-stamped urns positioned as decorations along the length of the spine. Binding worn, front free endpaper with edge-chipping and partial separation at hinge, scattered finger smudges and signs of handling throughout text; good.

A family presentation copy written by Samuel McCoskoy Cleveland (d. 1912), the author of this tribute to his father, Charles Dexter Cleveland (1802-1869), and given to Treadwell Cleveland Sr. (d. 1918), his brother.

Charles D. Cleveland, a Dartmouth graduate, Dickinson College professor, and member of the American Philosophical Society, became principal at a Philadelphia school for young women in 1834. He championed international peace and anti-slavery, notably endorsing the Liberty Party.

Cleveland was one of four men, William Still among them, who "un-boxed" Henry "Box" Brown in Philadelphia. William Still described Cleveland's involvement in witnessing Brown's "resurrection" as follows: "Professor Cleveland [was] greatly moved. His zeal and earnestness in the cause of freedom, especially in rendering aid to passengers, knew no limit. Ordinarily he could not too often visit these travelers, shake them too warmly by the hand, or impart to them too freely of his substance to aid them on their journey. But now his emotion was overpowering." (Still, UGRR, p83)

This memorial provides a sketch of Cleveland's life and appears in William Still's The Underground Rail Road between pages 723-734. It is unique, however, for printing this statement by Cleveland's son: "The following pages were written for Mr. WILLIAM STILL'S 'HISTORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.' Limited by space, they were not intended as a full account of my father's Anti-Slavery work, and are inadequate in showing even that part of it which connects him with this book. If they bring into any fair light somewhat of the spiritual attitude that he and his fellow-workers sustained towards the Cause, their purpose will be accomplished, and they will be welcomed by the friends, far and wide, who honored his work when the stress was hardest, and give a loving reverence to his life now that both work and life have passed to their consummation. S. M. C." Curiously, in the first edition of Still's book, although a portrait for Charles D. Cleveland is cited in a list of illustrations, no actual portrait was ever included

Rare. Hampton University has the only other extant copy.