Isaac Knapp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Knapp
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| Born | January 11, 1804 Newburyport, Massachusetts
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| Died | September 14, 1843 (aged 39) Boston, Massachusetts
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| Occupation | printer and publisher |
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Isaac Knapp (born January 11, 1804 – died September 14, 1843) was an American printer and publisher. He lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Knapp was an abolitionist. This means he worked to end slavery. He is best known for working with William Lloyd Garrison. Together, they printed and published The Liberator newspaper. This newspaper was very important in the fight against slavery.
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Isaac Knapp's Life Story
Isaac Knapp was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. His parents were Philip Coombs Knapp and Abigail Remmick. In 1825, when he was about 21, he owned a newspaper. It was called the Essex Courant. This newspaper was also published in Newburyport.
Working for Freedom
Knapp became good friends with William Lloyd Garrison. They shared a strong belief that slavery was wrong. In 1831, they started printing The Liberator newspaper. This paper spoke out against slavery. Knapp and Garrison worked together on it until 1839.
Knapp also helped start the New England Anti-Slavery Society. This group worked to end slavery in the New England area. His printing office was first on Congress Street. Later, it moved to Cornhill in Boston.
By 1837, Knapp's office was also the main office for the American Anti-Slavery Society. This shows how important his work was. He printed many books and pamphlets against slavery. Later, he turned his printing office into a bookstore. He sold many different anti-slavery books there. He often used blank pages in his books to advertise new publications.
The End of a Partnership
Isaac Knapp's name stopped appearing on The Liberator newspaper in January 1840. An advertisement in July 1840 showed new printers. They were Dow and Jackson, who took over from Isaac Knapp.
We don't know exactly why Knapp left. William Lloyd Garrison spoke kindly of him. Garrison called Knapp "a most loving, faithful, devoted friend." He said Knapp was "naturally amiable, kind, and obliging." Garrison felt he might not have started The Liberator without Knapp's help.
However, Garrison also said that Knapp had trouble with money. He got into debt because he was too generous and not good at business. This made him sad. Garrison felt that Knapp leaving was "absolutely essential" for the newspaper to continue.
In 1841, Knapp felt he was treated unfairly. He believed he lost his share in The Liberator unjustly. He even tried to start his own newspaper. He called it Knapp's Liberator. But only one issue of this paper was ever published. It came out on January 8, 1842.
Books Published by Knapp
Isaac Knapp published many important anti-slavery works.
Knapp's Bookstore
Isaac Knapp was also a bookseller. He sold many publications that supported the anti-slavery movement. For example, a catalog of anti-slavery books was published at the end of a book called Narrative of Joanna; An Emancipated Slave, of Surinam in 1838. This catalog listed many different books and pamphlets.
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 1
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 2
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 3
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 4
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 5
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 6
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 7
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Catalog of anti-slavery publications sold by Isaac Knapp, p. 8
Another list of anti-slavery books and newspapers appeared in The Rochester Freeman in 1839. Isaac Knapp played a big part in sharing ideas to end slavery. He did this through printing and selling books.
