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Art credit above: Maria Friske Mural Titled Always Know Your Neighbor

Rose O'Keefe

While Rose O'Keefe grew up mostly near New York City, after living in France for four years as a girl, she returned to the States knowing that other countries see life differently. As the daughter of an English immigrant and the D-I-L of a Lebanese immigrant, she has had close experience with different cultures. After Rose graduated from SUNY Potsdam, she moved to Rochester, New York, in the beautiful Finger Lakes area. Rose is the author of five history books that promote the contributions to human rights of the entire family of Frederick and Anna Murray Douglass. She now gives a larger view of the complicated story of human rights activism.

“Researching this area’s history is like diving into a bottomless well full of rocks and rainbows. Some of the history is very painful and some of it is truly inspiring. I think it’s important that people who may have been rivals or enemies in the past learn to get along in the present. I definitely believe in “United We Stand.”

Featured Books

Frederick & Anna Douglass in Rochester, New York: Their Home Was Open to All

Frederick Douglass--famed author, orator and former slave--spent twenty-five years with his family in Rochester, New York, beginning in 1848. Despite living through one of our nation's most bitter and terrifying times, Frederick and his wife, Anna, raised five children in a loving home with flower, fruit and vegetable gardens. While Frederick traveled widely, fighting for the freedom and rights of his brethren, Anna cared for their home and their family and extended circle. Their house was open to fugitives on the Underground Railroad, visiting abolitionists and house guests who stayed for weeks, months and years at a time. Local author Rose O'Keefe weaves together the story of the Douglasses' experience in Rochester and the indelible mark they left on the Flower City.

The Bumpy Road to the 19th Amendment Part One

This is part one of a three-part series that was published in The Epitaph, a newsletter put out by The Friends of Mount Hope Cemetery. You can download it as a PDF for free.