Free American Voices Curriculum

Sojourner Truth

[c. 1797–1883]

Born a slave, Sojourner Truth had a passion for freedom and a commanding personal presence that made her one of America’s leading advocates for equal rights.

William Apess

[1798–1839]

William Apess’s 1829 memoir A Son of the Forest was one of the first published works by a Native American.

Louisa May Alcott

[1838–1888]

Louisa May Alcott embarked on a writing career while still in her teens, and her novel Little Women features one of America’s most influential heroines.