Statue of Historic Figure: Wendell Phillips - Boston, MA

Wendell Phillips

Boston, MA

N 42° 20.974 W 071° 04.644

Short Description: 

A bronze bust of orator, abolitionist, native American and women's rights activist Wendell Phillips is located in the Bates Reading Room of the McKim Building of the Boston Public Library at 700 Boylston St., Boston, MA.

Long Description:

A life size bronze bust of "abolition's Golden Trumpet" Wendell Phillips rests on a 4' high black pedestal. The bust depicts only the head and neck of Phillips with his head turned to his right.

The bronze plinth is inscribed:

1811 WENDELL PHILLIPS 1884

A metal sign attached to the top of the pedestal is inscribed:

Presented by A. SHUMAN.

THROUGH THE

WENDELL PHILLIPS MEM'L ASSO'N

Rev. JESSE H. JONES President

A sign attached to the wall next to the sculpture is inscribed:

                                                     Wendell Phillips 1869
                                                     Martin Milmore
                                                     American, 1844-1883
                                                     Bronze

                                                     -----------------------------------------------------
                                                     GIFT OF A. SHUMAN AND WENDELL PHILLIPS
                                                     MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, 1899

Wendell Phillips was born in Boston, MA on November 29, 1811. He graduated from Boston Latin School, Harvard University, and Harvard Law School. He believed that that racial injustice was the source of all of society's ills, quit practicing law, joined the American Anti-Slavery Society, and fought for the abolition of slavery. A gifted orator, he earned the nickname "abolition's Golden Trumpet". In 1845 he wrote In 1845, he wrote the essay "No Union With Slaveholders", in which he argued that it was "impossible for free and slave States to unite on any terms".

Phillips was an early champion for women's rights. In 1846, he wrote in William Lloyd Garrison newspaper The Liberator that women should have rights to their property, earnings, and to be able to vote. Phillips was a close adviser to Lucy Stone and a member of the National Woman's Rights Central Committee. He helped organize their conventions and published their Proceedings.

Phillips also argued that the 14th Amendment granted citizenship to Native Americans and was instrumental in the creation of the Massachusetts Indian Commission.