-
1968: Kerner Commission Documents a Divided Societymore>> 1942: Detroit Rebellion an Omen of Deadly Riotsmore>> 1988: Debi Thomas Medals at Winter Olympicsmore>> 1870: Political Deal Brings End to Reconstructionmore>> 1870: Hiram Revels Becomes First Black U.S. Senatormore>> 1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler Becomes a Physicianmore>> 1868: W.E.B DuBois Born in Massachusettsmore>> 1988: First Grammy Awarded in Rap Categorymore>> 1965: Malcolm X Assassinated in New York Citymore>> 1895: Anti-Slavery Crusader Frederick Douglass Diesmore>>
February 7, 1862
Freedman's Aid Society Established in Boston
On this date in 1862, the New England Freedman's Aid Society was founded in Boston to assist free blacks, including former slaves. for the purpose of assisting former slaves and free blacks. The Society provided schooling and other services until it was dissolved in 1874. (In some ways, the purpose of the Society was overtaken by the federal Freedman's Bureau -- officially, the U.S. Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands -- which was organized by the U.S. government at the start of Reconstruction in 1865.)