The National Park Service/National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (NTF) Conference was held September 11-14, 2019, in Niagara Falls. The title of the conference was “Crossings: Bridging the Authentic Underground Railroad Past to the Present.” The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) was a partner. [Read more…] about Peter Feinman On National Underground RR Conference
Underground Railroad
Harriet the Movie and the Harriet Tubman of History
I like the movie Harriet, especially the singing, but again, I also liked Wonder Woman, Black Panther, Wolverine, and Dr. Strange (but not Thor, Aquaman, or the Avengers series). Harriet the movie is about a super-hero whose superpower is that God gives her specific directions about what to do (turn left at the river).
Harriet in the movie is based on an important historical figure, but in the end, she is a movie character, not the historic Harriet Tubman. As a movie, two-thumbs up; as history, too many rotten tomatoes. [Read more…] about Harriet the Movie and the Harriet Tubman of History
Underground Railroad Consortium Wins National Award
At the national Underground Railroad training event held at Niagara University in Niagara Falls on September 11 – 14, the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State (URCNYS) received the Robert G. Stanton Award for Network to Freedom (NTF) Partners.
The award was named after Robert G. Stanton who was sworn in as the National Park Service’s 15th director on August 4, 1997, as the first African American director and the first director to go through the Senate confirmation process. [Read more…] about Underground Railroad Consortium Wins National Award
National Underground Railroad Training Registration Open
Registrations are now open for the National Park Service Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Training in Niagara Falls, set for September 11 through 14, 2019.
Each half day of the Thursday and Friday event days will commence with a keynote speaker addressing one of the themes of the training. The keynotes are followed by five best practices or case studies that relate to the theme, and then the audience is further formed into small groups for discussion. [Read more…] about National Underground Railroad Training Registration Open
Central Park Statue Redesigned To Include Sojouner Truth
The Monumental Women’s Statue Fund announced a redesigned statue to honor pioneering women’s rights advocates – the first statue depicting real women in the 165-year history of New York City’s Central Park.
The redesign comes on the heals of criticism that the original design excluded the contributions of people of color.
The amended design, which still includes Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but now adds Sojourner Truth, is expected to be released on Women’s Equality Day, August 26th. [Read more…] about Central Park Statue Redesigned To Include Sojouner Truth
Underground Railroad History Training Event Planned
A national Underground Railroad training event has been set for September 11-14, 2019 at Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY. The theme for this training is Crossings: Bridging the Authentic Underground Railroad Past to the Present. [Read more…] about Underground Railroad History Training Event Planned
Harriet Tubman A Focus in Peterboro August 3rd
The Tenth Annual Peterboro Emancipation Days have been set for August 3rd, at 9:30 am, at the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, 5304 Oxbow Road in Peterboro.
Interior and exterior exhibits will be open including information on black freedom seekers who passed through Peterboro on their way to Canada, who stayed in Peterboro for lifetimes, who lived in Peterboro while working in the abolition movement, who served in the Civil War, and who came for an education at the Manual Labor School. There are also exhibits on the Underground Railroad, Gerrit Smith, and Greene Smith. [Read more…] about Harriet Tubman A Focus in Peterboro August 3rd
The Underground Railroad Escape of Harriet Powel
The Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark is set to hold a presentation on three African-American women who escaped slavery on the Underground Railroad: Harriet Powel, Harriet Russell, and Harriet Tubman, on Saturday, August 3rd, beginning at 1:15 pm. This event coincides with the Tenth Annual Peterboro Emancipation Days, being held on August 3rd and 4th. [Read more…] about The Underground Railroad Escape of Harriet Powel
Advocates Fight to Preserve Brooklyn Abolitionist Site
Before and during the American Civil War, probably between 1851 and 1863, 227 Duffield Street in downtown Brooklyn was the home of prominent abolitionists Thomas and Harriet Truesdell. The block is officially known as Abolitionist Place.
Harriet was on the organizing committee of the 1838 Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women. Thomas was a founding member of the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. They were colleagues and friends of well-known abolitionists Lewis Tappan and William Lloyd Garrison. Historians and community activists believe the Truesdell home was probably a stop on the Underground Railroad where freedom seekers escaping from slavery sojourned in relative safety during their trip further north or to Canada, but they have been unable to come up with documented proof. Now the building faces imminent demolition unless enough public support is generated to preserve it. [Read more…] about Advocates Fight to Preserve Brooklyn Abolitionist Site
Underground Railroad Training Planned for Niagara
Network to Freedom’s annual Underground Railroad training has been set for September 11-14th, in Niagara falls.
Organizers are looking for presentations for this training. The theme for this training is “Crossings: Bridging the Authentic Underground Railroad Past to the Present.” The Program Committee welcomes proposals for case study presentations. [Read more…] about Underground Railroad Training Planned for Niagara