Horton, George Moses, 1798?-approximately 1880

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George Moses Horton (circa 1797-circa1883) was a Chatham County, N.C., slave who taught himself to read and compose poetry. By the age of 20, he began visiting the University of North Carolina and selling to the students acrostic love poems based on the names of their girlfriends. His literary efforts were encouraged by a number of well-placed individuals, including the novelist Caroline Lee Hentz, North Carolina Governor and later University President David L. Swain, and newspaperman Horace Greeley.

Hentz helped Horton publish his first work, Liberty and Slavery, in the Lancaster [Mass.] Gazette on 8 April 1829. This was the first known poem written by a slave protesting his status. Horton's The Hope of Liberty, also published in 1829, was the first publication in the South by an African American.

[Adapted from the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography . For further information, see The Black Poet by Richard Walser (1966).]

OTHER HORTON HOLDINGS IN THE SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION

Additional Horton manuscripts can be found in the following collections:

From the Pettigrew Family Papers (#592), seven poems, 1836 and undated (folder 568):

The Emigrant Girl

On Ghosts

An acrostic (Doctrine Davenport) Mr. Davenport's address to his lady

An acrostic (Mary M. Davenport) His lady's reply

An acrostic (Mary Pettigrew Davenport) To their little daughter

The Pleasures of a College Life

An acrostic (Julia Shepard) On the pleasures of beauty

From the Gillespie and Wright Family Papers (#275), two acrostics on the same sheet, undated (folder 17):

Lo Twilight memorys sweet and pleasing beam

Joy may revive in sorrows lonely vale

From the David L. Swain Papers (#706), three letters, 1844, 1853, and undated:

To: Gov. Swain from George M. Horton of colour, 3 September 1844

To: [Horace Greely] from George M. Horton of colour, 11 September 1853

To: Gov. Swain from George M. Horton, poet, [undated]

From the guide to the George Moses Horton Poem, ., 1856, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Torrance and Banks family papers, 1765-1982 (bulk 1800-1900). University of North Carolina, Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library
referencedIn Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library) poetry readings, 1931- (ongoing). Woodberry Poetry Room, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf George Moses Horton Poem, ., 1856 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn George Moses Horton : poem Trudier Harris. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn William Stevens Powell Papers, 1880s-2007 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Gillespie and Wright Family Papers, 1735-1990 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Pettigrew Family Papers, 1776-1926 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Richard Gaither Walser Papers, 1918-1988 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf An address to collegiates of the University of N.C. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf [Two poems] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Myself : for SATB choir / James Barry ; text by George Moses Horton Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn Richard Gaither Walser Papers, 1918-1988 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barry, James, composer. person
associatedWith Dixon, Henry A. person
associatedWith Dixon, Martha Sugg. person
associatedWith Harris, Trudier. person
associatedWith Pettigrew family. family
associatedWith Powell, William Stevens, 1919- person
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
associatedWith Walser, Richard Gaither, 1908-1988. person
associatedWith Woodberry Poetry Room (Harvard College Library). corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
North Carolina
Chapel Hill (N.C.)
Subject
American literature
African American authors
African American poets
American poetry
Slaves
Slaves' writing, American
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1798

Death 1880

Information

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Ark ID: w63z63j3

SNAC ID: 19508883