United States. American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission

The American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission was established during the Civil War, after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, to determine the condition of free slaves. The men appointed as Commissioners were: Samuel Gridley Howe, James McKaye (1805-1888), and Robert Dale Owen (1801-1877).

Samuel Gridley Howe (1801-1876) was a doctor, educatior and activist. Along with his wife, Julia Ward Howe, he was a strong and vocal opponnent of slavery.

From the description of United States American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission records, 1862-1864. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612775411

The American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission was established during the Civil War, after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, to determine the condition of free slaves. The Commission was appointed in March of 1863 by U.S. Secretary of War, Edwin McMasters Stanton, to "inquire into the condition of the Colored population emancipated by acts of Congress and the proclamations of the president, and to consider and report what measures are necessary to give practical effect to those acts and proclamations, so as to place the Colored people of the United States in a condition of self-support and self-defense..." The men appointed as Commissioners were: Samuel Gridley Howe, James McKaye (1805-1888), and Robert Dale Owen (1801-1877).

Samuel Gridley Howe (1801-1876) was a doctor, educator and activist. He graduated from Brown University in 1821 and from Harvard Medical School with an M.D. degree in 1824. He was an American reformer and philanthropist who is best remembered for his work with the blind. He was the organizer of the New England Asylum for the Blind (later the Perkins School for the Blind) and was its head for 44 years. Along with his wife, Julia Ward Howe, he was a strong and vocal opponnent of slavery.

From the guide to the United States American Freedmen's Inquiry Commission records, 1862-1864., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)