Frederick and Little Annie

Zoe Trodd, compiler and editor of Picturing Frederick Douglass, found the above image in an archive in Louisiana of Annie Douglass, the youngest of Frederick and Anna Douglass's children.

Anna Murray Douglass and her daughter Annie Douglass were honored with headstones at a ceremony at Mt. Hope Cemetery on September 3, 2022.

Erica Mock, executive director of The Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, said the mother and daughter were buried at Mount Hope in the 19th century, but never had individual memorials to mark their burial place. Instead, they’ve shared a monument with famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who lived in Rochester for about 25 years.

Mock said Anna Murray Douglass was Frederick Douglass’ first wife --- they were married for more than 44 years and she was a freedom fighter in her own right. And their daughter, Annie, who died at the age of 10, was also a devoted student of the abolitionist movement.

“Wanting to make sure that Anna and Annie get the most respect that they’ve unfortunately not gotten at Mount Hope, they’ve been a little overshadowed by Frederick’s grave,” Mock said. “And while we know how fantastic Frederick Douglass is and was, the light of his life was his family.”

She noted that one of Rochester’s schools, School 12, is named after Anna Murray Douglass.

“We’ve actually developed curriculum that the Rochester City School District has allowed us to develop at the Anna Murray Douglass Academy, where K through 8 is being taught about Douglass and the family, with the instruction and the guidance of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives and the descendants,” Mock said.

The effort to enhance the Mount Hope Cemetery gravesites for Frederick Douglass’ wife and daughter was aided by a $15,000 grant from the Community Foundation.

The memorials also provided a tribute to The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery for their stewardship of the gravesite for more than 30 years and to Rochester educator and activist David Anderson for his efforts in retelling the Douglass story.

Sources: Southern University and A&M College. Unknown photographer, circa 1854; WXXI News article by Randy Gorbman (Feb. 2022); Leigh Fought Blogspot (2019)