Practical Dreamer: Gerrit Smith and the Crusade for Social Reform

by Norman K. Dann, Brian L. McDowell (Editor), Carol Ann Henderson (Illustrator)

Gerrit Smith may have been the least-known national leader of the American 19th century. A multi-billionaire by today s standards, he chose to live in a small, rural hamlet in Central New York state. His reach was he was a champion for women s rights, temperance, and most notably, the fight to end slavery and racial discrimination. The long list of visitors to his home in tiny Peterboro, New York included Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, John Brown, Susan B. Anthony, William Lloyd Garrison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth. In this landmark biography that is destined to become a favorite of researchers and historians, Norman Dann paints a vibrant portrait of Smith based on thousands of letters, poems, and speeches Smith gave to and received from those he worked with and against in his lifelong crusade for freedom and equality.

656 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mel Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gerrit Smith's biography is an inspiring story, and more people should know about him: Abolitionist, temperance agitator, women's rights supporter and cousin of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, preacher, congressman, wealthy philanthropist, one of John Brown's secret six. I bought this book after hearing the author Norm Dann speak at the Gerrit Smith estate land office. Mr. Dann certainly must be one of the foremost, if not the foremost, authority on the life of Gerrit Smith. There were a few quirky passages in this bio, which I hope to come back and discuss. But still well worth the time. I was very interested in the rise of the third parties opposing slavery, leading ultimately to the Republican party.