Network to Freedom

March 2002 More than “safe houses” 39 New Listings in the The Underground Rail- to incorporate and • Sites associated with Network to road refers to efforts of encourage new and kidnappings enslaved African Ameri- original investiga- • Sites associated with rescues of freedom Freedom cans to gain their free- tions, interpretations, seekers dom by escaping and commemorative bondage. Wherever • properties associated The National Under- activities around the with prominent persons slavery existed, there ground Railroad Network country. • cemeteries were efforts to escape, to Freedom Program pre- • military sites, such as serves and commemorates at first to maroon com- battlefields where the history of the Under- munities in remote or “contraband” were rugged terrain on the protected ground Railroad, a signifi- edge of settled areas. cant heritage related to Their acts of self- While the Under- resistance to enslavement emancipation made ground Railroad and the flight to freedom. them “fugitives” accord- existed in the The ing to the laws of the context of aboli- (NPS) is pleased to an- times, though in retro- tionism and anti- nounce that, as a result of spect “freedom seeker” slavery thought, the second round of appli- seems a more accurate As a result of the Union victory in April 1862, cations received by July Fort Pulaski became a haven for African those associa- description American refugees. tions alone are 15, 2001, the Network has not sufficient to accepted an additional 39 Connections to the Un- • Transportation include a site, facility, or listings—29 sites, 8 pro- derground Railroad and routes, including program in the Network grams, and 2 facilities. the resistance to slavery landscapes, water to Freedom. Participa- through flight can en- routes, caves, tion in the Underground Listing in the Network to compass various activi- swamps Railroad was a violation Freedom provides national ties. The most com- • Churches associ- of the federal fugitive recognition to well- monly recognized asso- ated with congrega- slave acts and hence ille- documented historic sites, tions active in the ciation is the safe house gal. Through their acts of programs, and facilities. Underground Rail- where shelter and food civil disobedience, these Network to Freedom list- were provided. How- road ings will be featured on • Sites associated individuals demonstrated ever, by focusing on the a higher level of commit- the Program’s web site with legal chal- (www.cr.nps.gov/ugrr). act of self-liberation, the lenges to slavery ment to the principles of Sites, programs, and facil- Network to Freedom • Enslavement sites freedom and self- recognizes a variety of with documented determination. It is this ities that have been ac- additional associations. escapes level of commitment that cepted in the Network will The following list sug- • Rebellion sites is recognized in the Net- have the privilege to use gests some of the possi- • Maroon communi- work to Freedom. and display the Network ble associations. The ties to Freedom logo. This list is meant to be fluid • Destination sites (Continued on page 2)

1 Network to Freedom 39 New Additions to the Network to Freedom validation of their Under- River, north of Alton, Illi- grams such as the Foot- ground Railroad associa- nois was an area known as steps to Freedom Study tions can be an important Rocky Fork, now known as Tour for California educa- tool for site preservation Camp Warren Levis. Here, tors and the living history and seeking funding. Inclu- in an area that became a based “A Fugitive’s Path— sion in the Network to Free- settlement for escaped Escape on the Under- dom is also required to be , was ground Railroad” interpret eligible for Network to one of the first “Free” state this history to people of all Freedom grants, when stops for freedom seekers ages and help to keep the funding is available. leaving Missouri. The com- memory alive. Similarly munity lasted long after facilities such as the River As the Network to Freedom 1865, with many descen- Road African American expands, information will dents still in the area, hold- Museum and be available to assist re- ing the oral traditions of Gallery in searchers in gaining a new their families. In New help to Listing in the Net- appreciation of the com- York, the Oswego Market tell the story of work to Freedom plexity of this rich tapestry House was used as the seat the origins of the illustrating the quest for of local government. It Underground provides national freedom. For example, at was the location of the Lib- Railroad in the recognition to well- the Mary Meachum Free- erty Party’s 1850 annual . documented historic dom Crossing in Missouri, convention where Gerrit sites, programs, and a group of enslaved Smith was nominated for We encourage facilities. Africans seeking their free- the presidency of the eligible Under- dom crossed the Mississippi and, Samuel ground Railroad River, just north of St. R. Ward, a fugitive from sites, programs, Louis. On the Illinois side, enslavement, was nomi- and facilities to they were met by a group of nated for the vice presi- apply. We welcome your police and owners resulting dency. participation in the Net- in the death of one orga- work. nizer, the arrest of Mary Equally important to sites, Meachum, and the sale of are the programs and facili- another woman in the party. ties accepted in the Net- Further up the Mississippi work to Freedom. Pro-

Network to Freedom Grants

Thanks to support from the geted grant application period will be eligible for grants in Delaware congressional for the remaining $250,000 is fiscal year 2002.. Grant fund- delegation, the National April1-May 15, 2002. A ing is appropriated by Net- minimum requirement for ap- Congress on an annual basis. work to Freedom has been plication will be listing in the For further details, contact allocated $500,00 for com- National Underground Rail- your regional coordinator or munity grants, of which road Network to Freedom. Diane Miller at $250,000 will go to the Un- Sites, programs, and facilities [email protected] or 402- derground Railroad Coali- that were accepted through 221-3749. tion of Delaware. The tar- the first three rounds of Net- work to Freedom applications

2 Network to Freedom Candidates for Round 3 of the Network to Freedom

Programs State Name City Massachusetts Resisting for Justice- The African Meeting House Boston and the Rescue of Shadrach Minkins Michigan Free Soil Underground Railroad Sightseeing Bus Vandalia Tour Plantation Quilts and Gifts Columbus Facilities

State Name City Florida Southeast Archeological Center (SEAC), NPS Tallahassee New York Oswego School District Public Library Oswego Richardson-Bates House Museum Oswego Virginia Alexandria Archeology Museum Alexandria The Library of Virginia Richmond

State Name City Illinois Lucius Read House Byron Eleutherian College Madison House Historic Site Fountain City Lyman Hoyt House Madison Iowa Nishnabotna Ferry House Lewis Maryland Antietam National Battlefield Sharpsburg Ferry Hill, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP Sharpsburg Massachusetts Ross Homestead Northampton New York Home Auburn Orson Ames House Mexico Ohio Benjamin Lundy House/Free Labor Store Mount Pleasant Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church Bloomingburg Charles B. Huber Farm Williamsburg Dr. John Roger Homesite New Richmond Fee Villa Moscow Gus West Site/Abolition Road Washington Court House Haines House Alliance New Richmond, Ohio Waterfront New Richmond Old Cavalry Methodist Church Moscow Roger Fee Homesite Moscow Spring Hill Historic Home Massillon Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church Cemetery Bethel Will Sleet Homesite Felicity Virginia Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial Arlington Alexandria Freedmen's Cemetery Alexandria West Virginia Harpers Ferry NHP Harpers Ferry

3 Network to Freedom Listings Accepted in the Second Round of the Network to Freedom Sites

State Name City District of Columbia National Historic Site Washington Illinois Camp Warren Levis Godfry Dr. Richard Eells House Quincy Kimzey Crossing/Locust Hill Tamaroa Owen Lovejoy Homestead Princeton Iowa Hitchcock House Lewis Todd House Tabor Maryland President Street Station Baltimore Massachusetts Nathan and Polly Johnson House New Bedford Michigan Guy Beckley House Ann Arbor Missouri Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing St. Louis New York Asa Wing Parish Bristol Hill Church (First Congregational Church and Society of Volney) Fulton Buckout-Jones Building Oswego Edwin W. Clarke House Oswego Gerritt Smith Estate Peterboro John B. and Lydia Edwards House Oswego Hamilton and Rhoda Littlefield House Oswego Oswego Market House Oswego Starr Clark Tin Shop Mexico Ohio Charles B. Huber Homesite Williamsburg Dr. L.T. Pease Homesite Williamsburg Felicity Wesleyan Church Felicity Homesite of Dr. William E. Thompson Bethel Lindale Baptist Church and Cemetery Amelia Tate Township Cemetery Bethel Williamsburg Cemetery Williamsburg Pennsylvania Independence National Historical Park Philadelphia Tennessee Fort Donelson National Battlefield Dover

State Name City California Footsteps to Freedom Study Tour Riverside Georgia From Africa to Eternity (Traveling Exhibit) Brunswick Indiana Indiana Freedom Trails Educational and Research Program “The Underground Railroad in Floyd County, Indiana” New Albany New York Tudor E. Grant: From Fugitive Slave to Oswego Businessman Oswego Ohio “A Fugitive’s Path—Escape on the Underground Railroad” Bath Clermont County Trail Tour Batavia Clermont County Underground Railroad Public Education Program Batavia Programs

State Name City Louisiana River Road African American Museum & Gallery Gonzales New York Mexico Museum Mexico Facilities

4 Network to Freedom Good News for cations are currently accepted. ence goes to institutions with Community Ask for a sample application. annual budgets under $100,000 Organizations Apply by April 3, 2002. or for long-term initiatives like an endowment, permanent lec- • Consultation for Public Pro- ture series, continuing exhibit The National Endowment for the grams (10 page-form), up to series, or community walking Humanities (NEH) offers help for $10,000, for any non-profit, no tours. Apply by May 1, 2002. beleaguered partners. Check track record necessary. The www.neh.gov or call (202) 606- planning projects should focus 8287. The following are directed on requests for academic or • Challenge Grants , for non- at non-profit organizations or lo- technical help with humanities profits, private or public, cal governments: programming (outreach, media, $25,000 to $500,000 requiring exhibits) by libraries, museums, a 1:3 match from non-federal • Preservation Assistance (4 historical organizations or com- donors over 4 years Part of page-form), up to $5000, for munity organizations. NEH NEH money can go for a part- non-profits with one profes- staff will give advice on drafts. time development officer's sional staffer, no grant track Deadlines are April & Septem- salary. Grants can go to a state record necessary. The grant ber. or local government, humani- pays a professional consultant ties council, public library, or to prepare a preservation plan • NEW! Special Initiative for Lo- statewide UGRR organization (cemetery, archives, collec- cal History , $10,000-100,000, for public programming, con- tion) or for preservation train- matching 1:1 from non-federal servation, or cataloguing col- ing or supplies. Half the appli- sources for non-profits. Prefer- lections. Apply by May.

Calendar of Events Steps…where do we go from here” as Pam Machuga, 330-650-4636 part of a preservation conference July 7-10 Mosaic in Motion 2002, a March 16 Illinois Underground Rail- sponsored by Indiana DNR, National conference on forging connections road Association “Gathering”, Gover- Trust for Historic Preservation, and between people of color and Amer- nors State University, University Park Historic Landmarks Foundation, Indi- ica’s national parks and public lands, (near Chicago), Illinois; Terry Ran- anapolis; Jeannie Regan-Dinius, 317- Stone Mountain, Georgia; Alicia som, 217-525-3554 or Diane Banta, 232-1646 Seyler, 202-223-6722 312-886-1437 May 3 Lantern Hike into History: August 10 Indiana Freedom Trails March 22-24 “Culturalisms in Amer- Routes to Freedom and Prosperity, an Annual Summit, Ft. Wayne, Indiana; ica” MORARE Conference; St. Louis, NPS ranger led 3-mile hike on the Jeannie Regan-Dinius, 317-232-1646 Missouri; Angela da Silva, 800-490- Ohio & Erie Canal, Cuyahoga Valley 3773 National Park, Ohio; Scott Van August 21-25 Association of African Houten, 330-650-4636 American Museums annual confer- April 3 NPS Network to Freedom ence, Washington, DC application review public meeting; May 4 National Historic , Louisiana; Diane Landmark and Network to Freedom This is a partial listing of upcoming Miller, 402-221-3749 dedications, Peterboro, New York; events, based on information available Tara Morrison, 215-597-9123 to NPS at time of publication. April 19“Gathering” at Frederick If you would like your event included Community College, Frederick, Mary- May 31-June 2 “Underground Rail- in future newsletters, contact Diane land; Jenny Masur 202-690-5166 road Activities on the Maritime Great Miller at 402-221-3749. Lakes” conference, Detroit, Michigan; April 26 Discussion session “The Diane Miller, 402-221-3749 National Underground Railroad Net- work to Freedom Initiative; The Next June 8 Juneteenth Celebration, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio;

5 Network to Freedom

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MIDWEST REGION 1709 JACKSON STREET OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68102-2571 ——————— OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

New NPS Contact Guy Washington Jenny Masur Information Pacific West Regional Office National Captial Parks East 1111 Jackson Street, Ste 700 1900 Anacostia Drive, SE Northeast Coordinator Tara Morrison Oakland, CA 94607 Washington, DC 20020 has relocated from Boston to Philadel- 510-817-1390 202-690-5166 phia. She continues to have the same [email protected] [email protected] states and responsibilities. She can be North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, east- reached at: The Alaska Coordinator is now Linda ern Tennessee Tara Morrison Cook. She can be reached at: James Hill National Park Service Linda Cook National Park Service 200 Chestnut Street National Park Service 1709 Jackson Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 2525 Gambell Street Omaha, NE 68154 215-597-9123 Anchorage, AK 99503 402-221-3413 [email protected] 907-257-2658 [email protected] [email protected] , Mississippi, Louisiana, western Ten- Pacific West Coordinator Guy Wash- nessee ington will also be covering the Inter- Southeast Coordinator Barbara Tagger Diane Miller mountain Region, including Texas, has accepted a detail appointment to National Park Service Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, work on the Harriet Tubman special 1709 Jackson Street Utah, Colorada, Wyoming, and Mon- resource study. Until the end of 2002, Omaha, NE 68154 tana. He can be reached at: other regional coordinators will assist 402-221-3749 in covering the Southeast Region as [email protected] follows: Florida, Alabama, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico

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