Published in 1865, The Freedmen's Book is a collection of stories, poems, and essays aimed at educating newly-freed Black people in the aftermath of the Civil War. The book was edited by abolitionist and author Lydia Maria Child, who saw education as a key element in the struggle for Black freedom and equality. The Freedmen's Book remains a valuable artifact of the early years of Reconstruction and a testament to the importance of education in the fight for social justice. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.