Skip to main content

BRA0582

Title

Subject

Wheatley, Phillis, 1753–1784

Description

Born in West Africa, the author of these poems was brought to America aboard the slave ship Phillis at the age of seven or eight. She was taught the rudiments of English by the Wheatley children and eventually began to compose poetry. This was the first publication of any kind by an African-American woman.

Creator

Wheatley, Phillis, 1753–1784.

Source

BRA0582. Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784). Memoir and Poems of Phillis Wheatley, a Native African and a Slave. Boston: George W. Light, 1834.

Publisher

Bridwell Library Special Collections

Date

Rights

Please cite Bridwell Library Special Collections, SMU, as the source of this file. A high-resolution version of this file may be obtained by contacting Special Collections (bridsc@smu.edu).

Relation

American1718

Format

Displayed as .jpg

Language

Type

Poetic memoir

Collection

Citation

Wheatley, Phillis, 1753–1784. , “BRA0582,” Bridwell Library Special Collections Exhibitions, accessed May 21, 2026, https://bridwell.omeka.net/items/show/1589.