The Slave's Friend

The Slave's Friend was an anti-slavery magazine for children published in the United States from 1836 to 1838 by the American Anti-Slavery Society. It is generally described as the first American abolitionist periodical aimed specifically at a juvenile audience. The publication formed part of a broader publishing program developed by the society during the mid-1830s, when abolitionists sought to distribute arguments against slavery through newspapers, pamphlets, books, and periodicals. The magazine was designed for young readers, apparently concentrating on children between approximately six and twelve years old. Its small format was intended to be easy for children to handle, and each issue was priced at one cent. The contents combined original moral and anti-slavery pieces with poetry and material reprinted from other contemporary publications. Woodcut illustrations were a regular feature. These images often contrasted scenes of violence, punishment, and family separation under slavery with more hopeful depictions of Black and white children learning and playing together. Its editorial approach was explicitly religious and moralistic. Slavery was presented as a sinful institution incompatible with Christian principles, while abolitionism was framed as a humanitarian and peaceful cause. The magazine rejected violent methods and portrayed anti-slavery activists as peacemakers. It also attempted to shape the language and social attitudes of its predominantly white juvenile readership. One issue offered a set of resolutions urging children to avoid insulting racial labels, to address Black people respectfully, and to cultivate kind and equal regard toward them. The publication also supported organized juvenile abolitionism. It reported on efforts to create children's anti-slavery clubs and printed a model constitution for such groups. Suggested activities included collecting small monthly dues and raising money to subsidize the production and circulation of anti-slavery literature. In this way, The Slave's Friend functioned not only as a magazine but also as an educational and mobilizing instrument for the American Anti-Slavery Society. Distribution was substantial for a specialized reform publication. Approximately 200,000 individual issues were circulated during its first year, alongside about 5,000 bound volumes. Circulation declined in the second year to slightly more than 130,000 copies, or fewer than 11,000 per issue on average. The magazine ultimately produced 38 numbered issues; its last issue appeared in 1838 as Volume IV, Number 2. Financial difficulties are generally identified as the main reason for its discontinuation. The American Anti-Slavery Society's publishing operation itself collapsed by the end of the 1830s, contributing to the magazine's demise. Although short-lived, The Slave's Friend occupies an important place in the history of abolitionist print culture, children's literature, and American reform publishing.

The Slave's Friend emerged from the expansion of abolitionist publishing in the United States during the 1830s. The American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan, regarded print as one of its principal instruments for challenging slavery and building public opposition to the institution. In 1835 the society planned a coordinated group of publications, including periodicals for adults and a monthly publication designed for children. The juvenile title was intended to extend abolitionist education into families and schools and to cultivate anti-slavery sentiment among the next generation. The first issue appeared in 1836. Its physical design reflected its intended audience: the magazine used a small format that could be comfortably handled by children and sold for one cent per issue. The editorial target appears to have been readers approximately six to twelve years old. Rather than presenting a narrowly political argument, the magazine blended stories, essays, poems, reprinted material, and illustrations. Woodcuts were especially important to its communication strategy. Images of beatings and other abuses associated with slavery were juxtaposed with scenes of children attending school or playing across racial lines, creating a direct moral contrast between oppression and humane social relations. The magazine's argument was rooted in Protestant moral language. Slavery was characterized as sinful, while compassion, parental love, education, and respect were presented as virtues that should lead children toward abolitionism. The periodical emphasized peaceful persuasion and humanitarian reform rather than armed or coercive action. Its portrayal of abolitionists as peacemakers reflected the American Anti-Slavery Society's effort to describe the movement as a moral cause even amid intense hostility from defenders of slavery. The publication also addressed everyday racial language. In its seventh issue, it gave young readers guidance to avoid demeaning labels and forms of address used against Black people. The guidance asked children to speak to and about Black people with the same respect expected in interactions with white people. This material reveals the magazine's attempt to influence not only opinions about slavery but also the social habits and language of its young white readership. The Slave's Friend was connected to practical organizing. The American Anti-Slavery Society sought to create networks of juvenile anti-slavery clubs, and the magazine publicized these efforts. It printed a sample constitution and proposed a small monthly membership payment. Children's groups were encouraged to support the circulation of abolitionist literature, while adults were asked to help finance the broader publishing program. The magazine therefore served as both a periodical and an organizing channel. Its first-year reach was considerable. About 200,000 individual copies were distributed during the first year, and roughly 5,000 bound volumes were sold or distributed. Circulation weakened in the second year, when just over 130,000 copies were circulated, averaging somewhat below 11,000 copies per issue. In total, 38 issues were produced. The last appeared in 1838 as Volume IV, Number 2. The title's disappearance was probably linked primarily to financial difficulties. The American Anti-Slavery Society's press and publishing activities deteriorated toward the end of the decade, and the organization itself nearly vanished by the end of the 1830s. The magazine consequently had a brief life, but its historical significance extends beyond its circulation figures. It represents an early attempt to create dedicated abolitionist children's media, combining inexpensive mass distribution with moral instruction, visual persuasion, and participation in reform organizations.

• 1838

  Publication ceases

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The 38th and final numbered issue appeared as Volume IV, Number 2 amid financial problems affecting the society's publishing operations.

• 1836

  First issue is published

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The inaugural issue introduced a small-format, one-cent magazine combining abolitionist writing, poetry, reprints, and woodcut illustrations.

• 1836

  First-year distribution reaches approximately 200,000 issues

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The magazine achieved broad distribution for a specialized reform publication and also circulated approximately 5,000 bound volumes.

• 1836

  Respectful-language resolutions are published

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The seventh issue gave children explicit guidance on avoiding insulting racial terms and treating Black people with equal respect.

• 1835

  Juvenile publication enters the society's publishing plan

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The American Anti-Slavery Society planned a monthly magazine for young readers as part of a wider group of anti-slavery periodicals.

• 1833

  American Anti-Slavery Society is founded

  [1]The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org

  The society that would publish The Slave's Friend was established by William Lloyd Garrison, Arthur Tappan, and other abolitionists.

A low-cost, illustrated abolitionist periodical that used religious instruction, moral storytelling, visual contrast, and respectful-language guidance to introduce children to the anti-slavery cause.

• Children's periodical · 1836

  The Slave's Friend magazine

  A small-format monthly magazine for children, priced at one cent per issue. It combined original abolitionist essays and stories with poetry, reprinted material, and woodcut illustrations. Its content used religious and humanitarian arguments against slavery and encouraged children to adopt respectful attitudes toward Black people.

• Collected publication · 1836

  Bound volumes

  Collected editions of the magazine's issues were distributed alongside individual copies. Approximately 5,000 bound volumes were circulated during the first year, extending the publication's use as a durable educational and abolitionist resource.

• Organizing and educational material · 1836

  Juvenile anti-slavery club materials

  The magazine published practical material for children's abolitionist clubs, including a sample constitution and suggestions for small monthly dues. These materials encouraged young readers to participate in fundraising and the distribution of anti-slavery literature.

• 1836Juvenile anti-slavery club network

  United States

  The American Anti-Slavery Society used the magazine to encourage the formation of children's anti-slavery clubs. The publication supplied organizational guidance and promoted small-scale fundraising to support abolitionist literature.

  Outcome. The effort demonstrated the society's attempt to turn juvenile readership into organized participation, although the scale and long-term survival of the clubs are not established in the available material.

  Source

• 1835

  Target children through a dedicated abolitionist magazineStrategy

  Background

  The American Anti-Slavery Society was expanding its print program and sought to reach audiences beyond adult reform readers.

  Action taken

  The society planned a monthly periodical with a small format, low cover price, illustrations, and language appropriate for children.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced substantial first-year distribution but did not result in a durable publication; the magazine ended after 38 issues in 1838.

  Source

1. 1The Slave's Frienden.wikipedia.org