06/21/2026
Edit: This post originally featured a photo of Nannie Helen Burroughs incorrectly identified as Sarah Mapps Douglass. We apologize for the mistake, and thank our followers for pointing it out.
There are no existing portraits of Sarah Mapps Douglass, so we replaced our image with a watercolor she painted for a friend because in addition to being an abolitionist, she was also a skilled artist, teacher, and scientist. These watercolors are the earliest known, surviving, signed paintings by an African American woman
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Have you heard of Sarah Mapps Douglass, a trailblazing Quaker educator, abolitionist, and writer who fought for freedom and equality?
Born into a prominent Black family in Philadelphia, she used her platform to empower others, founding schools for Black children and teaching health education to Black women. As a member of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, Douglass fearlessly advocated for the end of slavery, using her writings to expose injustice and uplift the humanity of all people.
Later in life, Douglass embraced Quakerism, finding inspiration in its commitment to peace, justice, and equality. Her faith deepened her activism, connecting her with the broader Quaker abolitionist movement. Through her work and beliefs, Douglass showed how education and advocacy could transform lives and drive meaningful change.
