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Phillis Wheatley’s Story

Historians and writers discuss the life of the poet Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley was a child when she was captured in Africa and brought to Boston, where she was enslaved. Although her poetry on the themes of freedom and oppression brought her international fame, she nevertheless spent most of her life enslaved to the Wheatley family.

Africa

1665

Unknown

This reproduction of a historical map shows the continent of Africa, along with small illustrations representing the people of the various regions.

Historic Urban Plans, Inc., Ithaca, NY.

A South East View of the Great Town of Boston...

c. 1737

John Carwitham (British, active ca. 1723–41)

The city of Boston as it appeared prior to Phillis Wheatley's arrival.

Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Frontispiece, with portrait of Phillis Wheatley

1773

Unknown, after Scipio Moorhead (American, c. 1750–unknown)

Phillis Wheatley's portrait appears in a collection of her poems.

"A Poem on the Death of Charles Eliot"

September 1, 1772

Phillis Wheatley (American, born West Africa, c. 1753–1784)

Phillis Wheatley's poem on a death of a young child, in her own handwriting.

William Legge, Second Earl of Dartmouth (1731-1801)

1752/3-1756

Pompeo Batoni (Italian, 1708-1787)

Phillis Wheatley met the Earl of Dartmouth in England and, later, addressed a poem to him that became one of her best-known pieces.

Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Purchased through gifts from Jame and W. David Dance, Class of 1940; Jonathon L. Cohen, Class of 1960, Tuck 1961; Frederick B. Whittemore, Class of 1953, Tuck, 1954; Barbara Dau Southwell, Class of 1978 and David Southwell, Tuck 1988; Parnassus Foundation/Jane and Raphael Bernstein; and an anonymous donor.

Letter from Phillis Wheatley to David Wooster

18 October 1773

Phillis Wheatley (American, born West Africa, c. 1753-1784)

Phillis Wheatley's signature on a letter that describes her manumission from John Wheatley, her visit to London and sales of her book of poems.

"A Poem on the Death of Charles Eliot"

September 1, 1772

Phillis Wheatley (American, born West Africa, c. 1753–1784)

Phillis Wheatley's poem on a death of a young child, in her own handwriting.

Phillis Wheatley

2003

Meredith Bergmann (American, active 1978–current)

Phillis Wheatley's likeness appears as part of the Boston Women's Memorial, along with samples of her published writing.

Jorge Salcedo / Shutterstock.com.

Phillis Wheatley

2003

Meredith Bergmann (American, active 1978–current)

Phillis Wheatley's likeness appears as part of the Boston Women's Memorial, along with samples of her published writing.

Jorge Salcedo / Shutterstock.com.

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