Lucretia Mott Speaks: The Essential Speeches and Sermons

Join Christopher Densmore, Carol Faulkner, Nancy A Hewitt, Beverly Palmer, editors of the new book, “Lucretia Mott Speaks: The Essential Speeches and Sermons” for a lecture and discussion.  We will meet at 6:30 at Mott’s gravesite, and then head over to Universalist Hagar Spiritual Church at 6:45 (across the street from HFH Burial Ground at 2950 Germantown Ave).

Committed abolitionist, controversial Quaker minister, tireless pacifist, fiery crusader for women’s rights–Lucretia Mott was one of the great reformers in America history. Drawing on widely scattered archives, newspaper accounts, and other sources, Lucretia Mott Speaks unearths the essential speeches and remarks from Mott’s remarkable career. The editors have chosen selections representing important themes and events in her public life. Extensive annotations provide vibrant context and show Mott’s engagement with allies and opponents. The result is an authoritative resource, one that enriches our understanding of Mott’s views, rhetorical strategies, and still-powerful influence.

There is finally a book of Lucretia Mott’s Speeches and Sermons, edited by the four experts on her life and work: Christopher Densmore, Curator of the Friends Historical Library at Swarthmore; Carol Faulkner, History professor at Syracuse University and author of Lucretia Mott’s Heresy: Abolition and Women’s Rights in Nineteenth-Century America; Nancy A. Hewitt, Professor of History and Women’s Studies at Rutgers University and Beverly Palmer, History Department, Pomona College, editor of Letters of Lucretia Coffin Mott.

“Eye-opening and invigorating. The editors have, quite sensibly, employed a light editorial hand, preferring to let Mott’s speeches take center stage, and to let Mott herself stand in the spotlight. This is a wonderful collection.”–Anne Boylan, author of Women’s Rights in the United States: A History in Documents

“This superb and authoritative collection of speeches and sermons of radical activist and renowned orator Lucretia Mott conveys the breadth and depth of Mott’s visionary leadership in abolition, women’s rights, religious and political reform, and education and peace.”–Ellen Ross, author of The Grief of God: Images of the Suffering Jesus in Late Medieval England

The land which is now Historic Fair Hill was part of a large territory given by William Penn to his friend George Fox, the English founder of Quakerism. On his death in 1691 he left this plot to American Quakers for use as “a stable, a Meetinghouse and burying place.” The Quaker burial ground was used from 1703 until the 1960s. It was one of the first racially integrated cemeteries in Philadelphia. Amongst those buried are many prominent women’s rights activists and abolitionists from the 18th and 19th centuries.

For info, call 215-844-1683  ex 107