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Grace Bustill Douglass (1782 – March 9, 1842) was an African American abolitionist, milliner, leader in women's rights, and teacher. Her family was one of the first prominent free black families in the United States. Their family history was one of the best documented in history for a black family during this period, dating from 1732 until 1925.

Life and career

Grace Bustill Douglass was born in Burlington, New Jersey, to a well-known abolitionist family, the Bustills. Her father was the Cyrus Bustill, a strong leader in the community and a promoter of the abolishment of slavery. Her mother was Elizabeth Morey, who was half Delaware Indian and half English. Grace was one of eight children: she had three brothers and four sisters. The Bustill family was one of the most well-known families of their time. Her father, Cyrus Bustill, was manumitted before he got married, from his Quaker owner, Thomas Prior, in 1769. From Prior, he learned the art of bread-making and eventually he opened up his own bakery in New Jersey. His bakery was successful, which allowed him to provide well for his family. Later he moved to Philadelphia where he opened up another bakery at 56 Arch Street and where he met Elizabeth and got married. He was a founder of Philadelphia's Free African Society. In 1797, he opened up a school for African American children. Growing up in a metropolis like Philadelphia allowed Grace to attend one of the few schools for black children during her time. This school in Philadelphia was where Grace and all of her siblings were able to receive their education.Grace was also able to learn a trade, milliner, which she used successfully to have a better life. She opened up a milliner shop on Arch Street (Philadelphia) next to her father's bakery.

In 1803, at the age of 21, Grace married, Robert Douglass. Douglass was a wealthy barber from the West Indies. They had six children together.Not much is known of four of her children but Sarah and Robert Jr. are well documented. Elizabeth was their eldest daughter she died young after attending a private school for a few years. Elizabeth was forced to leave the school after parents of the white students complained. This lead Grace, along with a family friend James Forten, to open up a school of their own school. This school along with private tutors was where Sarah, Robert, and her other siblings all received their extensive education. Sarah went on to become a famous abolitionist and teacher like her mother and Robert was a well-known portrait painter.

Following in her families footsteps, Douglass also became a devout follower of the Quaker religion. Douglass attended meetings of the Society of Friends at the predominantly white meeting house on Arch street. Although she was a devout Friend, she was never allowed membership into the Society of Friends because she was black. During this time, most Quaker(or Friends) were strong abolitionists but many still followed segregationist customs. The meeting house at Arch Street was followed these customs, separating white and blacks into separate sections. For this reason, all of Douglass's children, except Sarah, left the Friends and joined their father at the First African Presbyterian Church.

Anti-Slavery Activities

It was from her life of privilege that Grace decided to put material things aside and dedicate her life to helping others less fortunate than herself. Grace and her daughter Sarah met and developed a close friendship with Lucretia Mott and the Grimké sisters, Angelina and Sarah. This friendship eventually led to the creation of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. There was already an Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia but because they were woman, Grace and her daughter Sarah were not allowed to be members. This eventually led to the creation of the PFASS. Grace Bustill Douglass was one of the founding members of this bi-racial Anti-Slavery society. The society was involved in different aspects of society and the abolitionist movement. They waged a war against slavery and racial and gender discrimination. The society's constitution was signed in December 1833 by eighteen women, including Grace Bustill Douglass. The society was involved in different ways including: raising money, spreading antislavery texts, and started antislavery petitions against slavery in Washington D.C.. The society also supported the then radical idea that women should be allowed to vote, speak in public, and become leaders in groups like the Anti-Slavery Society. Another cause that was important to the society was education. Due in large part to Grace and Sarah Douglass' dedication to educating African American children, the society formed an education committee, which looked after educational facilities for black children around the Philadelphia area. After, the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were ratified in 1865 and 1870, respectively, the society was dissolved by the members, since they believed that their goal of ending slavery had been achieved.

Grace Douglass was also involved in other abolitionist activities. She was also a member of the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women. This organization represented antislavery societies in the free states. They had a convention that met annually. In 1837 and 1839 , Douglass was elected as vice president for the conventions held in New York. Although, Douglass was a Quaker, she was also a delegate at the annual meeting in Philadelphia for the Second African Presbyterian Church, with the husband and sister, Mary Bustill. The church members of this church thought that equality between the sexes was morally right and they welcomed women into the organization.

Grace Bustill Douglass died in 1842 after many years of community service.

Famous Relatives

• Grace Bustill Douglass is the great grandaunt of famous actor, singer, and political activist, Paul Bustill Robeson(1898-1976).

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Bacon, Margaret Hope (Feb 1, 2012). But One Race: The Life of Robert Purvis. New York: SUNY Press. p. 17. ISBN 0791480429. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
• Julye, Vanessa. "Cyrus Bustill" (PDF). www.fgcquaker.org. Quaker Resources. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
• Smith, Anna Bustill. "The Bustill Family". JSTOR. The Journal of Negro History. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
• Sterling, Dorothy (May 15, 2016). We are Your Sisters. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-31629-7. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
• Willson, Joseph. The Elite of Our People: Joseph Willson's Sketches of Black Upper-Class Life in Antebellum Philadelphia. Pennsylvania: Penn State Press. ISBN 0271043024. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
• Yee, Shirley J. (1992). Black Women Abolitionists: A Study in Activism 1828-1860. Tennessee: University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 0870497367. Retrieved 16 May 2016.