Solomon Northup, whose memoir was adapted for the film 12 Years a Slave, was the subject of a lengthy NY Times article that ran on January 20th, 1853—the month and year he regained his freedom.
The Paper of Record claimed to be the first to have delivered the full story of how the free-born Northup was kidnapped and sold into slavery. The article begins: "We have obtained from Washington the subjoined statement of the circumstances attending the seizure and recovery of the negro man Solomon Northup, whose case has excited so high a degree of interest. The material facts in the history of the transaction have already been given, but this narrative will be found a more complete and authentic record than has yet appeared."
You can read it in its entirety below, and click through for etchings of Northup, courtesy of the NYPL.
1853 NY Times article about Solomon Northup's ordeal
[via NY Times Arts]
