This documentary tells the dramatic story of william still, one of the most important yet largely unheralded figures in the history of the underground railroad. Except john brown, it is a question, whether his rival could be. Aug 19, 2019 stills book was published in three editions and went on to become the most circulated text on the underground railroad. Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery. William still and the underground railroad townsend. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the tumultuous years leading up to america. Having been born in a state which was prominent on the underground railroad, this book brought the sites i had been in even closer to the troubles these slaves suffered. The author of this book, william still, was born of slave parents and suffered being taken from his family. Major contributor to the success of the underground railroad in philadelphia. William still and the underground railroad kathleen stevens. All smithsonian museums and smithsonian libraries locations continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of covid19. Why did william stills mother leave two of her children behind. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Oct 29, 2019 william still was known as the father of the underground railroad, aiding perhaps 800 fugitive slaves on their journeys to freedom and publishing their firstperson accounts of bondage and escape in his 1872 book, the underground railroad records.
May 30, 2008 before picking up this book, i was already well acquainted with the still family especially william, who helped many slaves travel along the underground railroad to freedom, and james, the expert herbalist known as the black doctor of the pines. The underground rail road by william still plexus publishing. William still national underground railroad freedom center. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival memos, and ransom notes of the escapees. This edition highlights the remarkable creativity, resilience, and determination demonstrated by those trying to subvert bondage.
As a conductor for the underground railroadthe covert resistance network created to aid and protect slaves seeking freedomwilliam still helped as many as eight hundred people escape enslavement. By meserette kentake, kentake page it was my good fortune to lend a helping hand to the weary travelers flying from the land of bondage. The underground railroad was published in 1871 from stills records and diaries. Classic reprint of the original 1872 historical text written by the father of the underground railroad, an american abolitionist and successful philadelphia businessman who was born a free man, still helped hundreds of slaves to escape to freedom as many as 60 slaves a month in the years before the civil war ended slavery. Smart news keeping you current underground railroad safe house discovered in philadelphia preservationists say they have identified the home of famed black abolitionist william still, who offered. The underground railroad by william still kansas city. The underground railroad by william still, paperback. William still october 7, 1821july 14, 1902 was a prominent abolitionist who coined the term underground railroad and, as one of the chief conductors in pennsylvania helped thousands of people get free and settled away from slavery.
And to this day, his book contains some of the best evidence we have of the workings of the underground railroad, detailing the freedom seekers who used it, including where they came from, how they escaped and the families they left behind. It is heartbreaking to read and uplifting at the same time. In documenting their experiences firsthand, still preserved the single most authentic and important record of one of americas darkest chapters, while at the same time. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the.
William still was known as the father of the underground railroad, aiding perhaps 800 fugitive slaves on their journeys to freedom and publishing their firstperson accounts of bondage and escape in his 1872 book, the underground railroad records. This edition includes a new introduction and 20 illustrations from the original publication. William still, himself a son of slaves, was named its secretary and executive director. Wrote a book documenting stories of formerly enslaved africans who gained freedom. How did slave holders view the underground railroad. Underground railroad the william still story questions. This was an excellent book that portrayed the stories of escaping slaves on the underground railroad. The william still story tells compelling and lesser known stories of one of north americas greatest sagas. Pdf the underground railroad book by colson whitehead. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom. Stills meticulous entries offer unique insight into the secretive network known as the underground railroad. William still was an africanamerican abolitionist, conductor on the underground. The underground railroad records is an archive of primary documents that trace the narrative arc of the greatest, most successful campaign of civil disobedience in american history. William still, clerk for the philadelphia antislavery society for fourteen years, publishes an account of the underground railroad based on his personal notes.
Pennsylvania abolition society, william still assisted. In 1876, still placed the book on exhibit at the philadelphia centennial exposition to remind visitors of the legacy of slavery in the united states. The first edition of the novel was published in august 2016, and was written by colson whitehead. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 306 pages and is available in hardcover format. He was a prominent figure in the underground railroad as head of the philadelphia vigilance committee, which coordinated a lot of the ugrrs efforts on the east coast. When the work of the underground railroad was done at the conclusion of the civil war, mr. Still also wrote william stills underground railroad, an abolitionist account of the freedom network, in which he championed the hundreds of brave fugitives he interviewed as they made their way to the north.
William still william still used books, rare books and new books. Still proudly exhibited his book at the philadelphia centennial exposition in 1876. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the tumultuous years leading up to america s. William still and the underground railroad townsend press. Levin, still s father escaped slavery in maryland for freedom in new jersey. Underground railroad safe house discovered in philadelphia. The william still story premiered february 6, 2012. Aug 08, 20 after the civil war, still published the secret notes hed kept in diaries during those years, and his book is a source of many historical details of the workings of the underground railroad.
William still s book vividly brings to light the hardships and dangers faced by those who escaped slavery via the underground railroad. He was a conductor on the underground railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. Pdf downloads table of contents foreword preface excerpts. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom land, and their journey toward liberty. Why was it so dangerous for still to keep notes about the underground railroad. Working for the underground railroad in philadelphia, a free black man named william still aided hundreds of fugitives passing through the city on their way north. The stories themselves are written by the escaping slaves, bounty hunters, etc in the form of letters and correspondence. Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. A riveting collection of the hardships, hairbreadth escapes, and mortal struggles of enslaved people seeking freedom. In the winter of 1852, a group of philadelphia abolitionists dedicated to assisting runaway slaves formed a new assistance group in underground railroadthe general vigilance committee. Although it was william who ran station two, the hub of the american underground railroad in philadelphia, beginning in the 1840s, his siblings accomplished a staggering list of professional, entrepreneurial, social welfare, and legal activities while the mass of.
The william still story tells the dramatic story of william still, one of the most important yet largely unheralded individuals of the underground railroad. First published in 1872, william stills collection of accounts and letters is a powerful testament to the trials and tribulations of fugitive slaves who used the underground railroad, a secret network that enabled them to escape from bondage. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom. The underground railroad by william still free ebook. The narratives were painstakingly documented by william still 18211902, a son of emancipated slaves who helped guide untold numbers of fugitives to safety as an underground railroad conductor based in philadelphia. Throughout his life, still fought not only to abolish slavery, but also to provide africanamericans in northern enclaves.
As a conductor for the underground railroad the covert resistance network created to aid and protect slaves seeking freedom william still helped as many as eight hundred people escape enslavement. Pdf the underground railroad book by colson whitehead free. Letters from thomas garrett to william still, 18571860. Originally published in 1872 and out of print for many years, this landmark book presents firsthand accounts of slaves escaping north by way of the human support. Still was committed to preserving the stories of the bondmen and he kept careful records of the many escaped slaves who passed through the philadelphia station.
William still and the underground railroad townsend library. In bringing you these stories, librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. Oct, 2016 william still was an africanamerican abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist. Underground railroad, part 1 by william still free at. From these runaway slaves, still heard painful stories of humiliation and cruelty, along with inspiring accounts of their determination to escape. Before picking up this book, i was already well acquainted with the still family especially william, who helped many slaves travel along the underground railroad to freedom, and james, the expert herbalist known as the black doctor of the pines. Mar 23, 2018 still later described johnsons story, along with the stories of hundreds of others escaping slavery, in his 1872 book, the underground railroad, which is one of few firsthand accounts by. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are caesar the underground railroad. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and asneeded basis. Peter still, william still, and seth concklin t he story of peter still and his connection with underground railroad conductor william still and the valiant slave rescuer, seth concklin, may be the most remarkable tale in all underground railroad lore peters story begins when he was six years old and living in slavery along the maryland eastern shore.
He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom land. Although it was william who ran station two, the hub of the american underground railroad in philadelphia, beginning in the 1840s, his siblings accomplished a staggering list of professional, entrepreneurial, social welfare, and legal activities while the mass of american slaves lay in chains in the south. Journal c of the underground railroad in philadelphia kept by william still. This book gave me greater insight into exactly what william still did to help escaped slaves. Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in canada. Still also wrote william still s underground railroad, an abolitionist account of the freedom network, in which he championed the hundreds of brave fugitives he interviewed as they made their way to the north. As the underground railroad helped guide fugitive slaves to freedom, what dangers and challenges confronted both. In one interview, the author made the dramatic discovery that the fugitive confronting him was his own brother, a man from whom he had. Iso88591 start of this project gutenberg ebook the underground railroad produced by amy overmyer and the pg online distributed proofreading team. Underground railroad, part 1 by william still free at loyal. By the late 1870s, he sold an estimated 5,00010,000 copies. Buy the underground railroad by william still isbn. William still is often called the father of the underground railroad. Name some protagonists in books that frustrated you the.
After the civil war, still published the secret notes hed kept in diaries during those years, and his book is a source of many historical details. The underground railroad 9780486455532 by william still. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. He lived as a slave with his parents and seventeen brothers and sisters. William stills book vividly brings to light the hardships and dangers faced by those who escaped slavery via the underground railroad.
William still october 7, 1821 july 14, 1902 was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the tumultuous years leading up to. Still, william, 18211902 genres illustrations notes content. Free download or read online the underground railroad pdf epub book. The underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad. William still is youngest child of levin and sidney steel. As chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery society, he directly aided fugitives and kept records of their lives, to help families reunite after the maafa slavery was abolished. Deeply moved by the stories of the fugitive slaves he helped conduct northward, still took his. William still 18211902, african american abolitionist, philanthropist, and business person, became an important strategist for the underground rail road and wrote an account of the hundreds of slaves he aided in their flight to freedom.
The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are caesar. What happens to samuel smith when he tries to help another slave escape. Oct 12, 2006 this was an excellent book that portrayed the stories of escaping slaves on the underground railroad. The underground railroad by william still free ebook manybooks. The underground railroad by william still, paperback barnes.