Network to Freedom

In Memoriam, the Network to Freedom Loses a Friend

I am not go- ing to die, I’m going home like a shooting star.

—Sojourner Truth Dr. Barbara Woods joins Guy Washington, Pacific West Regional Coordinator, at the Amistad Exhibit in Buffalo, , September 2003, while on a break from a stra- tegic planning meeting with Network to Freedom staff and partners.

The Network to Freedom mourns the Network to Freedom logo and through communication and the the regretful passing of our friend website. Her insights were par- courage to face uncomfortable and supporter, Dr. Barbara ticularly valued by the National situations. Dr. Woods always Woods, of St. Louis, Missouri. Park Service staff. looked for the commonality She died on December 23, 2004, among people while valuing their at the age of 59, following a long Dr. Woods gave freely of her unique contributions. fight with cancer. Dr. Woods time and wisdom in supporting was involved with the Network to the work of the Network to Free- Recognizing the important work Freedom from the beginning, par- dom and advancing the cause of that the Network to Freedom was ticipating in numerous meetings educating the public about the advancing and the challenges and discussions to offer her input . Her pas- faced by the program, Dr. Woods on the formulation and operation sion seemed to have been borne developed a vision to establish a of the program. She was also of her strong beliefs that accep- nationwide Friends group to sup- part of the planning effort for the tance and common understanding port this effort. She organized September 2000 event to launch could exist among all people, (Continued on page 6)

Official newsletter of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, Issue #9 Summer 2005

2005 Network to Freedom Grant Recipients

State Listing Name Project Name Amount Illinois Dr. Richard Eells House 1851 Addition Improvement $25,000 Georgetown Historic District Madison UGRR Exhibit $6,000 Indiana Historic Eleutherian College Restoration of Rotted Floor Joist $10,000 Indiana “The Underground Railroad in Phase II of Ordinary People, Extraor- $21,500 Floyd County, Indiana” dinary Courage Kansas Constitution Hall--Topeka Restoration & Repair of West Eleva- $25,000 tion Walls Dorchester County Courthouse Interpretive Signage $12,000 Maryland Southern Maryland Studies Center Hidden Identities: Southern Maryland $6,861 Slaves & US Colored Troops at Camp Stanton Massachu- Discovering New Bedford’s UGRR Expanding New Bedford’t UGRR $15,000 setts History Program through research & brochure Mayhew Cabin Walls, Porch, & Interior Rehabilita- $21,275 tion New York Bristol Hill Church (pending) Structural Repairs $25,000 New York Buckhout-Jones Building Oswego Main Street UGRR Interpre- $2,000 tive Signs New York Oswego School District Public Li- Building Stabilization & Exterior Pre- $19,860 brary (pending) servaiotn Clermont County UGRR Public Underground Railroad Kiosk $19,000 Education Program Ohio Experience the Underground Rail- Conduct Primary Research to Support $4,065 road Program Ohio John Rankin House Rankin House Archeological Survey $25,000 Historical Society of Pennsylvania Contextualizing the UGRR: Slavery, $22,650 Abolition, & Freedom in the HSP Collection Pennsylvania Johnson House Roof Stabilization and Preservation $25,000

Pennsylvania Zercher’s Hotel Christiana UGRR Center $10,589

The Network to Freedom program is the grant proposals reflect the creativ- Topeka, Mayhew Cabin, and the pleased to announce the grants shown ity of the many Network to Freedom Oswego School District Public Li- above. These projects were selected members in preserving and telling the brary. Other projects focused on ex- from among 38 applications in a very story of the Underground Railroad. panding research in support of site competitive pool of proposals. More Several projects were to stabilize and interpretation or to improve pro- than $640,000 in projects were sub- preserve endangered historic build- grams—such as with archeological mitted, but only $295,800 was avail- ings—such as Eleutherian College survey at John Rankin House or able for the grants in FY 2005. (one of the National Trust for Historic “Discovering New Bedford’s UGRR Places 11 Most Endangered places in History” (a cooperative project among The variety of projects described in the entire country), Constitution Hall- 3 local partners).

2 Summer 2005

Moncure Conway, a Son of the South, Honored for Aiding Freedom Seekers

By Norman Schools, Conway House owner ideal that survives the decay of dogmas.” remarked, “Conway knew what, at their best, Melville, and Steinbeck, and Ker- Moncure D. Conway, a radical abolition- Conway House is located in Falmouth, ouac knew—that Americans live up to ist from the South, was exiled even by his Stafford County, , an old Colonial their destiny not by staying close to home closest kin who were one of the leading port town on the Rappahannock River, (whether literally or figuratively) but by and prominent aristocratic families of old slightly upstream, and opposite the city of leaving it, by venturing, by going to sea, Virginia. In 1862 he led a large group of Fredericksburg. During the Civil War the or on the road. Walt Whitman (whom freedom seekers, people enslaved by his area including Conway House witnessed Conway admired and helped) said Amer- family, to safety and resettlement in Yel- much devastation and several major bat- ica is really the greatest poem. low Springs, Ohio. Oliver Wendell tles. Today Conway House is a Virginia Holmes, Sr. referred to him as among the State Landmark, listed on the National “How do you put that life on a sign? You “dirty-linened friends of progress… Register of Historic Places, included in don’t, but it’s OK because such a sign is Virginia-born, with seventeen secesh the Network to Freedom and has been really more about the generation that cre- cousins, fathers, and other relatives…” nominated as a National Landmark. ates it. The sign says a little about Con- way, but a lot about us. It says, first, that Moncure’s father owned more than fifty On August 23, 2004, Conway was hon- we have committed ourselves to expand- slaves and the family treated them with ored by a Virginia State Historical High- ing the cast of characters in the historical exceptional kindness. Years later one way Marker. Professor James Bryant re- pageant of which we are a part. We will would write, “Not only was she your marked, “Recognizing a man rejected by never again be so narrow in our definition mother but she was a mother to all—both of ‘Virginian or Southerner.’ In Conway’s white and colored.” Conway’s father was time, we now acknowledge, Virginians the most gentlest and caring individual came in different colors, degrees of Free- concerning their welfare. However, Mon- dom, religion and political views—and to cure Conway knew that these slaves us, now, they all matter. wanted to be free when: “And the sign says, finally, that we Vir- The flowers bursting into bloom whis- ginians honor one who went away, who pered “Break thy bonds,” and the flying had, once to go away--because we honor cloud said “Be free!” The Strain was his principals, his values, his quest, we taken up by the winds, I heard it in the recognize, more than many of his contem- ebb and flow of the tide, and to it moved poraries in the region could, the virtue of the stars in their courses. those values, the power of those princi- pals. The sign reflects what we consider ------M. D. Conway important, what we value. It reflects us, and it challenges us…Conway knew that Conway also knew that those who em- journeys come in many forms. Tonight braced slavery were also slaves in them- we affirm that we, too, know this, as we selves to that institution. Conway House write a new page in the story and journey portrays this as Moncure, Daniel, and old Confederate Stafford is a milestone… of Virginia.” Conway were the names of three of the in the past, Virginia honored those who region’s most formidable families, with fought for the Confederacy. Finally, in the In 2005, a new page is being written in st relations by birth to the Harrisons, the 21 century, Virginia is recognizing an- the history of the Moncure Conway Taylors, the Madisons, the Lees, collater- other perspective of the war.” The preced- House as the Moncure Conway Founda- ally through two lines to George Wash- ing year, on June 13, 2003, the state of tion is created. Many goals are already ington, a signatory of the Declaration of Ohio honored Conway and the Conway being envisioned by this organization Independence, a justice of the U.S. Su- Colony in Yellow Springs with a histori- including site interpretation. The descen- preme Court, an attorney general of Vir- cal state marker. These markers were dents of the Conway Colony in Yellow ginia, a member of the state legislature— dedicated with recognition by the Gover- Springs, Ohio have expressed their sin- with all this prestige and distinguished nors of Ohio and Virginia respectively. cere desire to make a spiritual journey by privilege, yet the Conway family had to retracing the journey of their freedom deal with the moral question of slavery. A newspaper account of the Aug. 23, seeking ancestors, visiting Stafford Now, civil war forced the issue and di- 2004 event related, “Last week, for the County and Conway House. The Founda- vided the family. Moncure Conway first time, a descendant from the Conway tion hopes to make this a reality and share would later write, “The human mind, in- Colony came to Stafford.” In closing the this great humanitarian story with the spired by the heart, shapes in the future an dedication, Professor John d’Entremont Nation through a documentary.

Summer 2005 3

Congratulations to the New Network Listings

At a public meeting in Baltimore, Mary- Kansas North Carolina land in September, 2004, NPS accepted • Underground Railroad in Douglas • Pasquotank River [site] the following sites, programs, and facili- County, Kansas [program] ties into the Network to Freedom. • Quindaro Ruins [site] Ohio • Haines House [site] Florida Maryland • Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park • Arrest Site of William Chaplin [site] Virginia [site] • Roedown Farm [site] • Downtown Norfolk Waterfront [site] • Rural Legacy Trail: UGRR Experience Illinois [program] West Virginia • Congregational Church (Jacksonville) • West Virginia State Archives [facility] [site] Massachusetts • Old Slave House (reverse UGRR) [site] • Joshua Bowen Smith House [site] Wisconsin • Caroline Quarles: She’s Got a Story to Indiana New York Tell [program] • Georgetown Historic District [site] • Matilda Joslyn Gage House [site] • Tibbets House [site] • Onondaga Historical Association Mu- seum & Research Center [facility]

Network to Freedom coordinators review applications for new sites, programs, and facilities at Fort McHenry National Monu- ment and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Sep- tember 2004.

At a public meeting in , Indiana North Carolina in April 2005, NPS accepted the following • Freedom & Heritage • Orange Street Landing on Cape Fear sites, programs, and facilities into the Net- Trail & Tour of UGRR Sites in the City [site] work to Freedom. of Baltimore, MD [program] • Hampton National Historic Site [site] Ohio California • In Their Steps [program] • Experience the Underground Railroad • “Straight From Tha Underground” Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum [program] [program] • [site] • John Rankin House [site]

• Nelson T. Gant Homestead [site] • Mount Clare [site] • Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Monument • “Mattie, Johnny and Smooth White • Old Jail of St. Mary’s County [site] [site] Stones” [program] • [site] • Port Tobacco Courthouse [site] • On the Trail to Freedom in Lorain Illinois County, Ohio [program]

• Rocky Fork (boundary expansion) [site] Pennsylvania • Caroline Quarlls: A Family Legacy of Indiana Freedom [program] • Kennett Underground Railroad Center • John Gill and Martha Wilson Craven • Quest for Freedom: The UGRR in House [site] New York [program] • Herman and Hannah Phillips House [site] Virginia • Fee Land: The Story of Juliet Miles • Seward House [site] • Birch Slave Pen [site]

[site] • Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence Wisconsin [site] Maryland • A.P. Dutton Warehouse [site] • Dorchester County Courthouse [site] 4 Summer 2005

Georgetown Historic District becomes First in Network to Freedom

The first neighborhood, or historic dis- freedom. A few of these residents had to flee markers helps communities present, pro- trict, included in the Network to Freedom from Madison themselves in the late 1840s. mote, and preserve their rich history for for the collective involvement of its resi- Despite the danger, after the late 1840s some both citizens and visitors. In cooperation dents in the Underground Railroad, was freed backs in Madison continued to aid free- with the Indiana Department of Natural dom seekers. The Underground Railroad the Georgetown area of Madison, Indiana. Resources and Indiana Freedom Trails, refers to a widespread network of diverse peo- In the 1840s Georgetown was home to ple in the nineteenth century who aided slaves markers for Underground Railroad-related William Anderson, George deBaptiste, escaping to freedom from the southern U.S. sites include the Indiana Freedom Trails Elijah Anderson, Chapman Harris, and logo. A searchable database on the Inter- other prominent Underground Railroad net, brings this history to a worldwide operatives. A public dedication ceremony audience. http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/ and unveiling for the Indiana historical www/ihb/ugrr/index.html marker to commemorate Georgetown was held on October 30, 2004, in the Windle Historic Madison, Inc., which owns the Auditorium as part of the Cornelius African Methodist Episcopal Church O’Brien/Indiana Main Street conference building in Georgetown, has received held in Madison. almost $460,000 in grants to restore the building and develop a museum to com- The marker reads: memorate the Underground Railroad his- tory of the community. The recently Free blacks settled in Madison as early as Indiana heritage continues to gain atten- awarded $6000 Network to Freedom 1820. The growing black community began tion by the placement of historic markers grant will contribute to the completion businesses and organized churches and throughout the state commemorating sig- and success of this project. schools in this area, later called Georgetown. nificant Indiana people, places, and Risking their own freedom, some free black residents here actively aided slaves seeking events. The installation of historical Network to Freedom Connecting Story: “The Pearl”

In 1848, one of the largest attempted es- daughters. Paul traveled with William the funds donated by . capes of Africans in the U.S. occurred on Chaplin, a white antislavery activist, on Chaplin left Maryland for New York and a ship called the Pearl. It sailed from speaking engagements to raise the $2250 never returned. He was never tried in Washington, D.C. down the Potomac needed to purchase his two daughters. court. River for Frenchtown, MD. Over 70 Free- dom Seekers were on board, many from The Pearl incident had an influence on The story of Pearl is told as part of a Asbury United Methodist Church. Un- author in writing guided walking tour of Maryland called fortunately, the attempt failed, and the Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Stowe used the Ed- “In Their Steps.” ship was captured near Point Lookout in monson sisters as partial models for her Maryland. characters Emmeline and Cassy. Congre- So far, the Pearl incident involves seven gational Minister, , Network to Freedom listings in five Many of the freedom seekers were bought Harriet’s brother, spoke to his congrega- states. by slave traders for sale further south. Six tion on behalf of the sisters and the • Asbury United Methodist Church (DC) Edmonson family members were on church was able to raise $87. • Point Lookout State Park (MD) board: Emily, Mary, Richard, Ephraim, • Bruin’s Slave Jail (VA) Samuel and John. The Edmonson siblings Four weeks after being freed, the sisters • Arrest site of William Chaplin (MD) were purchased by Joseph Bruin of Bruin were presented to Rev. Beecher’s congre- • Gerrit Smith Estate (NY) & Hill Slave Traders for $4500.00. They gation to help raise money for their edu- • Westwood Cemetery (OH) were held in the Bruin’s Slave Jail until cation. William Chaplin wrote to Gerrit • “In Their Steps” (MD) they were sent to , but after Smith on several occasions regarding the the yellow fever epidemic broke out Edmonson sisters and their fundraising People involved in the Pearl incident Emily, Mary and Richard returned to Bal- efforts. Mary Edmonson died while at- • Edmonson Family timore. The other 3 brothers were sold in tending Oberlin Prep Division and is bur- • Harriet Beecher Stowe & brother, New Orleans. (Richard had been re- ied in Westwood Cemetery in Oberlin. • Rev. Henry Ward Beecher deemed by money donated by a grandson • William Chaplin of John Jacob Astor). The girls’ father, While attempting to leave town with two • Gerrit Smith Paul Edmonson, who was free, eventually freedom seekers, Chaplin was arrested. raised the money needed to purchase his He was freed on bail, with a majority of

Summer 2005 5

Candidates for Tenth Round

The following candidates are being considered for inclusion in the Network to Freedom in the tenth round of applications. On August 31, 2005, from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, at the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture, 301 Main Street, Natchez, MS 39102, the regional coordinator committee will review and vote on the applications listed below. The public is invited to attend. For further information or to comment on the applications, please consult the Network website at www.cr.nps.gov/ugrr, or contact Diane Miller at , 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 or at 402- 661-1588.

Sites • W.W. Harwood Farmstead Programs DC DC • African Memorial New York • ”From Slavery to Freedom” • Camp Greene and Contraband Camp • Cayuga County Courthouse • Howland Stone Store Museum Iowa Iowa • James Canning & Lydia Fuller House • Iowa Freedom Trail • Mason House Inn • Site of Martha & David Wright House • “Mysterious Tracks, Stories of the UGRR • Theron Trowbridge Site in Iowa/Bury my Bones but Remember my Words” Illinois • Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal • Illinois College—Beecher Hall (Chapel) Church New Mexico and site of the College Building • Mt Zion African Methodist Episcopal • Harriet's Return • Pettengill Home Site Church Facilities Maryland Ohio Georgia • Berry Farm • John King Farm • Quilt Code Museum (at Underground • Jacob Leverton Dwelling Atlanta) • Site of Newport Mill Pennsylvania • Rockland • Mother Bethel African Methodist Episco- New York • Shawnee Old Field Village Site pal Church • Cayuga Co Historian's Office • Swallowfield • Case Memorial Seymour Library-Mary Virginia Van Sickle Wait History Room Michigan • Gunston Hall • Saline Presbyterian Church

Dr. Woods’ passing

(Continued from page 1) a pioneer in African American Center for Interdisciplinary Stud- the first meeting of people from Studies who directed the African ies at St. Louis University. She around the nation interested in American Studies Institute and retired in 1999 after more than 28 creating a group to preserve and years with the university. Until promote the Network to Freedom the time of her death, she contin- and the Underground Railroad. ued working with students as a Dr. Woods spearheaded the for- professor of urban specialization mation of a friends group in sup- at Harris-Stowe State College. port of the Network to Freedom at a meeting held in Washington, Dr. Woods will be missed by her DC, in February, 2003, that was family and friends and the many attended by representatives from students whose lives she touched. around the country. She was the The Network to Freedom staff guiding spirit until her untimely will especially miss her unfailing death. Dr. Woods at the Network to Free- spirit and words of encourage- dom launch event, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 2001 ment. Dr. Woods is also remembered as

6 Summer 2005

Seeking Freedom in Nineteenth-Century America Announcements

By Sheila Sibley, Curator, Newton History Gifts in Grateful Recognition NTF Coordinator Changes Museum at Jackson Homestead (MA) Some time during the early nineteenth Northeast Coordinator Tara Morrison century, a piece of West African cloth remains on a detail appointment . Sheri The Newton History Museum's new and a gold ring were sent via ship Jackson continues to cover daily opera- exhibit, "Seeking Freedom in Nine- from an African father to Salem, MA tions with the Network to Freedom Pro- teenth-Century America," explores resident and abolitionist William B. gram. Sheri may be reached at American slavery and anti-slavery activ- Dodge. Although we do not know the [email protected] or 215-597- ity in the nineteenth century through name of the gift giver, the gifts were 7050. stories of four individuals who sought sent to Dodge "by an African Chief- their own freedom or assisted others. tain in grateful recognition for sending New Address for NTF Coordinator National Capital Region Coordinator The exhibition also reveals how subse- him his kidnapped son, who was sold Jenny Masur has relocated to a new quent generations defined and preserved into American slavery, back home." office. Her new contact information is: evidence of freedom. He trusted that these items would Interpretation and Education reach Dodge, as Dodge had trusted National Capital Region Charles Redding of the Kearsarge that the man's son would reach him. National Park Service In September of 1850, ten-year-old Dodge's great, great-granddaughter 1100 Ohio Drive, SW Charles Redding was an inmate of the was Newton resident Virginia Gray, Washington, DC 20242 House of Industry in Boston. Twelve who donated the cloth and ring to the [email protected] years later he was in New Bedford, MA museum in 1991. Both the hand- 202-619-7136 voice enlisting in the Union Navy, an institu- woven textile and the ring are dis- 202-619-7159 fax played in the exhibition. Looking at them, we can only imagine the sorrow of the father at the loss of his son and Buxton 8th Annual US-Canadian His- the joy he must have felt when his son tory and Genealogy Conference returned to him. September 2, 2005; North Buxton Com- munity Church, Ontario. Buxton Home- A Free Woman of Color coming on September 3. contact: 519- On August 30, 1849, Louisa Magruder 352-4799 or [email protected] or Addison, a freeborn African- www.buxtonmuseum.com American woman, registered her free status with the Prince George's Secrets of the Underground Railroad County court clerk. By Maryland law, September 10, 2 pm; Civil War and Un- she had to obtain a Certificate of Free- derground Railroad Museum of Phila- dom to travel out of the county in delphia, Pennsylvania. Learn about the which she had been born free. The use of archeology to find Underground Charles Redding law required that the certificate note Railroad evidence. Also, on 2nd Satur- how the free person became entitled to days of the month, story hours at 11 am tion he would be a part of until 1867. his or her freedom. As written on her featuring living history storytellers. One of the ships he served on was the certificate, Louisa "became entitled to www.cwurmuseum.org Kearsarge, which sank the Confederate her freedom by virtue of her being the Alabama in 1864. In both the late 1850s reputed daughter of Matilda Magruder Underground Railroad Gathering in and in the summer of 1866 he sat for who was also a free woman." Fea- New Jersey portraits. Both portraits, an ambrotype tured in the exhibition is the Certifi- September 21, 2005, 8:30-3:30; War and a carte-de-visite, are on view in the cate of Freedom Louisa obtained that Memorial, Trenton , New Jersey. Come exhibit. They show a handsome, suc- August day, and the silk purse in network and share information. RSVP cessful African-American man, one of which she carried it, both on loan to by September 9 to Giles Wright at 609- nearly 18,000 African-Americans to the museum from Howard and Karen 984-3464. serve in the U.S. Navy during the Civil Haywood. Louisa, Howard's great, War. At some time in his life he met, great-grandmother, moved to Newton American Association for State and and received aid from, Newton resident with her family between 1867 and Local History annual conference Henry Lemon. The portraits were do- 1870. Passed down from one genera- September 21-24; Hilton Pittsburgh, nated to the Newton History Museum tion to the next, the certificate gener- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Discuss vari- by Lemon’s great, great-granddaughter, ates conflicting emotions for Howard (Continued on page 9) Laura Fewkes. (Continued on page 8)

Summer 2005 7

Black History Committee of Loudoun County, Virginia: a Wide Circle of Interest

By Alexandra Gressitt, Manager, Thomas one other committee book Essence of a The research required for all of these pub- Balch Library People, Portraits of lications and the outreach of the commit- Who Made a Difference in Loudoun tee (cited below) has revealed Under- A little more than four years have passed County, Virginia, (2001) and contributed ground Railroad networks in Loudoun since a group of descendants, local histo- to a companion book, The Essence of a County. At this time, Thomas Balch Li- rians and interested citizens met to dis- People II, African Americans Who Made brary, The National Trust for Historic cuss an anonymous gift of $50,000 to Their World Anew in Loudoun County, Preservation’s Oatlands Plantation and Leesburg, Virginia’s Thomas Balch Li- Virginia and Beyond (2002), edited by the Courthouse in Leesburg are on the brary ( a facility in the Network to Free- Kendra Hamilton. Another publication, Register for Loudoun County. Research dom) to honor a prominent African- Loudoun County’s African American is ongoing for additional sites. BHC American from Loudoun County. The member Bronwen Souders and her hus- resulting Black History Committee band, John, are donating electronic scans (BHC) of the Friends of Thomas Balch to Thomas Balch website of their research Library, Inc. is now researching Under- of over 250 slave advertisements, pub- ground Railroad links, reaching out to the lished in the Genius of Liberty (published Loudoun community, joining other in Leesburg 1817-1843) reflecting bio- groups such as the Quad-State Sympo- graphic data on slaves, their owners, rent- sium for Black History and is about to ers, homes and possible destinations of publish its fourth book. runaway or captured slaves passing through Leesburg. This material will be In the Watchfires: The Loudoun County available some time in 2005. Emancipation Association, 1890-1971, is Communities, A Tour Map and Guide, written by Elaine Thompson, the grand- (2004) was produced by the committee With grant funds, the BHC has purchased daughter of Howard W. Clark, Sr., a foun- with the considerable assistance of con- numerous books and microfilms, includ- der and early president for whom one sultant and committee member Deborah ing Freedmen’s Bureau records and the room in the renovated local history Tho- Lee. The BHC also worked with Lou- Afro-American newspaper published in mas Balch library is now named. Thomp- doun Museum in 2001 to produce Afri- Washington and Baltimore, 1893-1967 son, along with co-editors Betty More- can-American Heritage Trail, Leesburg, for Thomas Balch Library. Committee field and Mary Randolph, and assisted by Virginia by Deborah Lee. other members of the BHC, has produced (Continued on page 9)

Newton History Museum at Jackson Homestead, Exhibit on Freedom

(Continued from page 7) way to Canada, for his master was in Bos- placed side by side the documents reveal Haywood. "I experience a tremendous ton looking for him." Written in 1894, the hopes and the fears of one abolitionist sense of pride that my great-great- these words by Ellen Jackson about her family, part of a larger, although never grandmother Louisa Magruder although father William Jackson help document the large, group of people struggling to end born free had to have papers to prove her homestead as a station on the Under- legal slavery in the . humanity, survived an environment of ground Railroad. Jackson family members hate, but left us a legacy of hope. I try to were abolitionists, a minority group. Yet The development and creation of this ex- imagine the circumstances of her journey even within this one Newton family, hibit were made possible with funds pro- from Maryland to Massachusetts as she members did not agree on how the institu- vided by the Newton Historical Society encountered people who had no respect tion of slavery should be abolished. and the Massachusetts Foundation for the for her or the paper she held." Three manuscripts written by two genera- Humanities. "Seeking Freedom in Nine- tions of Jackson family members are dis- teenth Century America" will be open for With a Welcome to Any of the Workers played in the exhibit: the 1894 reminis- viewing until January 2006. The Newton Against Slavery cences of Ellen Jackson quoted above; History Museum is located at Jackson "One night between twelve and one the 1859 school journal of William Jack- Homestead, one of the first members of o'clock I well remember father was awak- son Fuller, in which he laments the execu- the Network to Freedom. ened by pebbles thrown against his cham- tion of ; and an 1862 letter ber window. He rose and asked what was from Sarah Jackson Tappan to her sister wanted. Bowditch replied it was he with a Hannah Jackson Fuller, in which she runaway slave whom he wished father to writes "I feel like praying that the war hide till morning and then help him on his may not end till slavery does." When

8 Summer 2005

Black History Committee, Loudoun County, Virginia

(Continued from page 8) direction of the Virginia Department of reach. The Virginia Foundation for the Historic Resources. Humanities and Public Policy has been a members Betty Morefield and Wynne generous supporter, as have been the Lou- Saffer have begun transcribing some of In 2004, A Glimpse into the History of doun Restoration and Preservation Soci- the Freedmen’s Bureau records. Over 35 African Americans in Loudoun County ety, the Loudoun Library Foundation, and oral histories of African American resi- website http://www.balchfriends.org/ the Friends of Balch Library, Inc. dents have been taped and transcribed and Glimpse/index.html was launched by Ra- photographs taken. chel Thompson and Annie Hulen of the Consultant Marie Tyler McGraw gave Friends Education Committee, assisted by valuable advice at the beginning on the Community outreach has been a strong several members of the BHC. The site direction the committee could take, and element of the BHC direction. Members, was carefully designed to meet Virginia Friends member and officer and BHC including charter members Lou Etta Wat- Standards of Learning for middle and member Susan Webber has contributed in kins and Mary Randolph, have spoken at high school students and teachers for many organizational ways. Pauline community centers and schools and held black history study and is proving a popu- Singletary guided the committee as Chair roundtable discussions on life in Lou- lar and easily up-dateable tool. since 2000, and Phyllis Cook-Taylor took doun. The latter sessions have been tran- over in 2005, having served as financial scribed and are available at Thomas Balch In addition to using some portion of the coordinator since the committee’s incep- Library. The community also facili- initial gift monies, the BHC has sought tion. Inquiries may be directed to Cook- tated—through money, time and research, grant funds to support its publications, Taylor c/o Black History Committee at a historic resources survey of African- provide assistance to Thomas Balch Li- P.O. Box 2184, Leesburg, VA 20177. American sites in the county under the brary collections and community out-

Announcements (continued)

(Continued from page 7) Plantation, Creswell, North Carolina. the 1872 edition, along with the original Attendees must pre-register. See http:// author's preface from the 1878 edition, a ous areas of interpretation including slav- www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org/ biography of , and a new ery, community involvement and the fu- summit10.htm for more information. foreword by Professor Sarah Smith Duck- ture of history, learn about the governance sworth of Kean University (NJ). For more of small and large organizations, discover Borderlands IV Underground Railroad info see http:// new ideas for children’s programming, Conference www.plexuspublishing.com/ugrr.shtml and explore how we determine what his- October 14-15; Northern Kentucky Uni- tory is important and what is not. versity, Highland Heights, Kentucky. New Books http://www.aaslh.org/anmeeting.htm Fosters collaboration between academic Bordewich, Fergus M. Bound for Ca-

and lay community researchers. See naan: The Underground Railroad and the Association for the Study of African http://www.nku.edu/~freedom/ War for the Soul of America. American Life and History 90th Annual

Convention 2005 Maryland African American Heri- Frazier, Harriett C. Runaway and Freed October 5-9; Buffalo Hyatt, Buffalo, New tage Preservation Conference Missouri Slaves and Those Who Helped York. The Niagara Movement: Black October 20-23; Easton, Maryland. Con- Them, 1763-1865. Protest Reborn 1905-2005. for informa- nect those interested in preserving culture tion see: http:// and history. Contact Anita Neal Powell Friends of Freedom Society. Freedom www.asalh.com/90thconvention.html ato 301-241-2747 or Seekers: Ohio and the Underground Rail-

[email protected] road. (see Twentieth Annual Lincoln Colloquium www.ohioundergroundrailroad.org) October 7-8; Lincoln Home NHS, Spring- Re-Issue of William Still's Classic, The field, Illinois. Includes teacher’s work- Underground Railroad Grffler, Keith. Front Line of Freedom: shop. For information: Orignially published in 1872 and out of African Americans and the Forging of the [email protected] print for many years, this landmark book Underground Railroad in the Ohio Valley.

presents accounts of freedom seekers re- Tenth Annual Ohio Underground Rail- corded and preserved by William Still, a Hoffman, Judy. God’s Portion: Godfrey, road Summit son of emancipated slaves and a key fig- Illinois, 1817-1865/ October 14-16; Ohio Dominican Univer- ure in Philadelphia's anti-slavery move- sity, Columbus, Ohio. Keynote speaker ment during the mid-19th century. The Michael, Peter H. An American Family of Dorothy Spurill-Redford (Somerset Home- 2005 edition includes the complete text of the Underground Railroad. coming), Executive Director, Somerset

Summer 2005 9

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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program Coordinators Contribute to the

NOTE: New Address Newsletter National Park Service 601 Riverfront Drive Please forward notices, items of interest, Omaha, Nebraska 68102 articles, or topic suggestions for consid- www.cr.nps.gov/ugrr eration to Diane Miller at NPS, 601 Riv- Diane Miller, National, [email protected] erfront Dr., Omaha, Nebraska 68102 or at

James Hill, Midwest, [email protected] [email protected].

Jenny Masur, National Capital, [email protected] Comments on the newsletter are also wel- come. Sheri Jackson, Northeast, [email protected]

Barbara Tagger, Southeast, Deadlines are January 15 and July 15. [email protected]

Guy Washington, Pacific West & Intermoun- tain, [email protected]

10 Summer 2005