Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879

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American reformer and linguist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Birmingham, to [Freeman H. Morse], 1869 May 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131472

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Springfield, Massachusetts, to Freeman H. Morse, 1854 Jan. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131738

From the description of Autograph letter signed : New Britain, Connecticut, to the Rev. W.H. Ward, 1873 Jan. 04. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131661

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Portland, Maine, to the Rev. John Pierpont, 1843 Oct. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270131712

Elihu Burritt (1810-1879), famous as "the Learned Blacksmith," was born in New Britain, Conn. During his youth he apprenticed himself to a blacksmith. After working at various jobs, he became interested in improving his education and moved to Worcester, intending to use the library of the American Antiquarian Society to study foreign languages. In Worcester, he worked as a blacksmith and taught himself to read some thirty languages. Burritt decided he wanted a literary career and in 1839 he began to publish Literary Geminae, a magazine in English and French. The magazine failed the following year. He began lecturing at lyceums, and was involved in evangelical, temperance, and antislavery activities. In 1844 Burritt started a weekly newspaper in Worcester called The Christian Citizen. He became increasingly interested in pacifism and associated himself with peace organizations. In 1846 he went to England and founded the League of Universal Brotherhood. During most of the remainder of his life he wrote numerous books and traveled extensively in Europe and America lecturing and working for world peace.

From the description of Papers, 1822-1868. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 207122078

Born and died in New Britain, Conn. Founded League of Universal Brotherhood to further the course of world peace; organized Brussels Peace Congress of 1848; served as U.S. consul at Birmingham, Eng., 1863-1870.

From the description of Letter : New Britain, Conn., to the editor of the Express, 17 Jan. 1859. (Buffalo History Museum). WorldCat record id: 56781495

Reformer, publisher, and author.

From the description of Elihu Burritt correspondence, 1859. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980290

Linguist, reformer; formed League of Universal Brotherhood, 1846; U.S. consulate, Birmingham, England, 1863-1870.

From the description of Letters, 1865-1874. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 27988878

Buritt was an American reformer.

From the description of Letter and portraits, 1848. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78986985

Burritt, a linguist, reformer and peace activist also organized peace conferences.

From the description of ALS, 1851 Dec. 23 : Manchester [Eng.] to Miss Sidebottom. (Haverford College Library). WorldCat record id: 52625601

Elihu Burritt was born in New Britain, Connecticut, in 1810. Known as the "Learned Blacksmith" because he was primarily self-taught, he was a social reformer, abolitionist, absolute pacifist, linguist, and internationalist. He advocated programs of international cooperation and inexpensive international postage rates (which he called "ocean penny postage"), and promoted his plans by means of "Olive Leaves" (brief statements written by peace reformers) and "Friendly Addresses" between paired cities in the United States and England. Burritt was active in the American Peace Society, and was a founder of the League of Universal Brotherhood. He was involved with several international peace conferences in Europe, notably the first Peace Congress held in Brussels in 1848. Although a staunch abolitionist and a believer in complete equality among the races, Burritt opposed the American Civil War on absolute pacifist principles. He proposed a system of "compensated emancipation", to pay Southern slave owners to free their slaves. Burritt died in New Britain, Connecticut in 1879.

From the description of Papers, 1840-1965 1841-1878 (bulk). (Swarthmore College, Peace Collection). WorldCat record id: 20494897

Elihu Burritt was an American reformer and peace advocate. Apprenticed as a blacksmith, he sought opportunities for learning, and taught himself Latin, Greek, mathematics, and other subjects while working as a smith. He began publishing, and lecturing, and acquired the nickname of The learned blacksmith. He continued to work for peace and the abolition of slavery, founding periodicals and writing tracts.

From the description of Elihu Burritt letter, 1850 Mar. 11. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 52999941

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1841 Dec. 30, Worcester, Mass., to Isaac T. Smith, New York City. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Autograph collection of Davis R. Marshall, 1801-1868 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Brainard, Charles Henry, 1817-1885. Papers, 1795-1884 and undated Houghton Library
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Forrer family. Forrer-Bruen family papers, 1750-1918. New Jersey Historical Society Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Autograph letter signed : Springfield, Massachusetts, to Freeman H. Morse, 1854 Jan. 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Gregg Family : Papers, 1808-1943. The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter from Elihu Burritt, with related material. Brotherton Library, University of Leeds
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Autograph letter signed : Birmingham, to [Freeman H. Morse], 1869 May 12. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Alcott family additional papers, 1707-1904 (inclusive), 1821-1888 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1846 November 11, Halifax, England, to "Friend [George Washington] Taylor" / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letters, 1865-1874. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1856 December 1, New York, to "My Dear Friend" [George Washington Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Strickland, E. Louisa, 1840-1891. [Diary of Ellen Louisa Strickland], 1864-1866. Central Connecticut State University, Elihu Burritt Library; Burritt Library
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1873 June 16, New Britain, Conn., to Julia Curtiss, Meriden, Conn. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Stanley, Frederick T., 1802-1883. Frederick Stanley correspondence, 1795-1880. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Papers, 1834-1869. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Elihu Burritt letters and miscellany, 1839-1875 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Cartland family papers, 1823-1913. Houghton Library
referencedIn Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884. Papers, 1555-1882 (bulk: 1833-1881) Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1855 February 16 [electronic resource] : Newport, Monmouthshire, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1855 January 19, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 November 6, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
referencedIn Fred A. Rosenstock autograph collection L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Papers, 1822-1868. American Antiquarian Society
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1847 January 4, Birmingham [England], to "Dear Friend [George W.] Taylor" / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1846 September 29, Exeter, Eng. to "Friend [George Washington] Taylor" / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn McNary Family. Papers, 1791-1910. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Ecroyd, John. Letter, 1854 February 10, Edgend nr. Burnley, to "My Dear Friend Elihu Burritt" / John Ecroyd. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Strickland, Anna C., 1838-1923. [Diary of Anna C. Strickland, 1854-1855]. Central Connecticut State University, Elihu Burritt Library; Burritt Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Autograph letter signed : New Britain, Connecticut, to the Rev. W.H. Ward, 1873 Jan. 04. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1856 November 17, Canastota, New York, to unnamed friend. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Rowland, Hugh. Elihu Burritt [paper read before the Saturday Night Club] February 15, 1969. Central Connecticut State University, Elihu Burritt Library; Burritt Library
referencedIn Herman W. Liebert manuscript collection, 1604-1987 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Autograph letter signed : Portland, Maine, to the Rev. John Pierpont, 1843 Oct. 11. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letters from Elihu Burritt [manuscript], 1850-[1857]. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Penney, Eleanor L. Elihu Burritt and the peace movement. [Paper written while an undergraduate doing honors work at Connecticut College for Women, June 1928.]. Central Connecticut State University, Elihu Burritt Library; Burritt Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1871 May 5, New Britain, Conn., to the Editor of the New York Independent. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 October 20, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter : New Britain, Conn., to the editor of the Express, 17 Jan. 1859. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 May 2, Washington, D.C., to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Plimpton, George A. (George Arthur), 1855-1936. George A. Plimpton papers, 1600-1940? Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Baldwin, John D. (John Denison), 1809-1883,. Daguerreotype collection 1839-1900. Gadsden Public Library
referencedIn Ralph Waldo Emerson letters from various correspondents, ca. 1814-1882. Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1849 February 2, London, to "George W. Taylor" / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Elihu Burritt letter, 1850 Mar. 11. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1855 May 4, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Talcott Family. Papers, 1822-1932. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Allibone, S. Austin (Samuel Austin), 1816-1889. Papers of S. Austin Allibone, 1848-1887. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter : New Britain, Conn., to the editors of the Connecticut courant, 1874 June 2. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
creatorOf Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896. Harriet Beecher Stowe collection of papers, 1847-1895. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Dwight, Theodore Frelinghuysen, 1846-1917. Papers II, 1734-1869, bulk: 1800-1864. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Letters to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1761-1904 (inclusive), 1820-1888 (bulk) Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Elihu Burritt correspondence, 1859. Library of Congress
referencedIn U.S. History mss., 1612-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Woolsey family papers, 1750-1969 (bulk 1811-1921) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter and portraits, 1848. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Samuel Henshaw letters from various correspondents, 1849-1937 and undated. Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Papers, 1840-1965 1841-1878 (bulk). Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 December 13, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George Washington Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Holland Collection of Literary Letters (MS 168), 1850-1880, 1872-1878 University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Special Collections Dept.
referencedIn J. T. (John Townsend) Trowbridge papers, 1855-1939. Houghton Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. The social principle / by Elihu Burritt. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Cartes-de-visite album and biographies, ca. 1875-1876. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 November 28, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1846 October 19, London [England], to "Dear Friend [George Washington] Taylor" / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter : New Britain, Ct., to the editors of the Connecticut courant, 1874 June 2. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879,. Autograph collection of Davis R. Marshall [manuscript], 1801-1868. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Brinton, Ellen Starr, 1886-1954. Papers, 1895-1980 1933-1954. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1856 November 8, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George Washington Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1856 March 28, New Britain, Conn., to "My Dear Friend" [George Washington Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1841 March 22, Worcester, Mass. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1855 April 20, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George Washington Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter, 1854 November 21, London, to "My Dear Friend" [George W. Taylor] / Elihu Burritt. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Taylor family papers, 1846-1929. Haverford College Library
referencedIn Harriet Beecher Stowe collection of papers, 1847-1895 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. ALS, 1851 Dec. 23 : Manchester [Eng.] to Miss Sidebottom. Haverford College Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Letter to G. P. Putnam & Sons [manuscript], 1870 August 12. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Burritt, Elihu, 1810-1879. Elihu Burritt correspondence and writings, 1841-1873. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wood, M. S. (Mary Sutton), 1805-1894. Wood Family Papers, 1784-1874. Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Alcott family. family
associatedWith Allibone, S. Austin (Samuel Austin), 1816-1889. person
associatedWith American Peace Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Aylesworth, Barton O. (Barton Orville), 1860-1933 person
associatedWith Boston and Albany Railroad Co. corporateBody
correspondedWith Brainard, Charles Henry, 1817-1885 person
associatedWith Brinton, Ellen Starr, 1886-1954. person
associatedWith Burritt, Elijah H. (Elijah Hinsdale), 1794-1838. person
associatedWith Burritt, Emily, d. 1837. person
associatedWith Carpenter, Mary, 1807-1877, person
correspondedWith Cartland family. family
associatedWith Cary, Henry, 1804-1870. person
associatedWith Curti, Merle (Merle Eugene), 1897-1996. person
associatedWith Curtiss, Julia Ann Upson, 1814-1904. person
associatedWith Dwight, Theodore Frelinghuysen, 1846-1917. person
correspondedWith Ecroyd, John. person
correspondedWith Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882 person
correspondedWith Forrer family. family
associatedWith G.P. Putnam & Sons, corporateBody
associatedWith Henshaw, Samuel, 1852-1941 person
associatedWith Holland, J. G. (Josiah Gilbert), 1819-1881 person
associatedWith Jackson, E. W., person
associatedWith League of Universal Brotherhood. corporateBody
associatedWith Liebert, Herman W., person
associatedWith Liebert, Herman W., collector. person
associatedWith Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882 person
associatedWith McNary Family. person
associatedWith Morse, Freeman Harlow, 1807-1891, person
associatedWith Olive-Leaf Circle (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Olive Leaf Mission. corporateBody
associatedWith Peace Congress 1848 : Brussels, Belgium) corporateBody
associatedWith Peace Congress 1849 : Paris, France) corporateBody
associatedWith Peace Congress 1850 : Frankfurt, Germany) corporateBody
associatedWith Penney, Eleanor L. person
associatedWith Philadelphia Free Produce Association of Friends. corporateBody
correspondedWith Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884 person
associatedWith Pierpont, John, 1785-1866, person
associatedWith Plimpton, George A. (George Arthur), 1855-1936. person
associatedWith Rosenstock, Fred A., b. 1895 person
associatedWith Rowland, Hugh. person
associatedWith Sidebottom, Miss. person
associatedWith Smith, Isaac Townsend. person
associatedWith Southall, Anna Mary. person
associatedWith Stanley, Frederick T., 1802-1883. person
associatedWith Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896. person
associatedWith Strickland, Anna C., 1838-1923. person
associatedWith Strickland, E. Louisa, 1840-1891. person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Swarthmore College. Peace Collection. corporateBody
associatedWith Talcott Family. family
correspondedWith Taylor, George W., 1803-1891 person
correspondedWith Trowbridge, J. T. (John Townsend), 1827-1916 person
associatedWith Ward, William Hayes, 1835-1916, person
associatedWith Wood, M. S. (Mary Sutton), 1805-1894. person
associatedWith Woolsey family. family
associatedWith Woolsey family. family
associatedWith Woolsey family. family
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Britain
London (England)
Newport (Wales)
United States
Washington (D.C.)
Southern States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
France
Southern States
London (England)
London (England)
London (England)
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Southern States
New Britain (Conn.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
Great Britain
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
London (England)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Great Britain
London (England)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Great Britain
United States
Southern States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Exeter (England)
Southern States
United States
United States
United States
Texas
London (England)
Great Britain
Halifax (England)
United States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
London (England)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Birmingham (England)
London (England)
Great Britain
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
United States
Southern States
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
United States
United States
New York (N.Y.)
United States
London (England)
London (England)
United States
United States
Great Britain
United States
United States
Subject
Slavery
Abolitionists
Abolitionists
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Antislavery movements
Antislavery movements
Ecology
Internationalists
Lecturers
Lectures and lecturing
Letters
Linguists
Manners and customs
Open pulpit
Pacifism
Pacifists
Pacifists
Pacifists
Peace
Peace
Peace
Peace movements
Peace movements
Portraits, British 19th century
Postal rates
Puns and punning
Reformers
Reformers
Reformers
Slaveholders
Slaves
Slaves
Social reformers
Time management
Occupation
Authors
Publisher
Reformers
Activity

Person

Birth 1810

Death 1879-03-06

Information

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