William still was a major contributor to the success of the. Sep 07, 2018 a guide to the underground railroad in philadelphia, visit philadelphia. William still, philadelphian and son of a formerly enslaved woman who had escaped to freedom before his birth, was a prominent conductor on the underground railroad. 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. William stills national significance william still. 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. 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. The still family hometown, lawnside, new jersey, was a stop on the underground railroad. This book gave me greater insight into exactly what william still did to help escaped slaves. William still, clerk for the philadelphia antislavery society for fourteen years, publishes an account of the underground railroad based on his personal notes. Paul moravecs sanctuary road illuminates william still.
William still and the underground railroad lesson plan. The underground railroad, new york, berkley books 1989, isbn. William still, himself a son of slaves, was named its secretary and executive director. The underground railroad by william still free ebook. The author of this book, william still, was born of slave parents and suffered being taken from his family. Sep 10, 20 william still, philadelphian and son of a formerly enslaved woman who had escaped to freedom before his birth, was a prominent conductor on the underground railroad. Oct 12, 2006 this was an excellent book that portrayed the stories of escaping slaves on the underground railroad. How harriet tubman and william still helped the underground. William still national underground railroad freedom center. 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. As a conductor for the underground railroadthe covert resistance network created to aid and protect slaves seeking freedomwilliam still helped as many as.
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. Underground railroad, part 4 by william still free at. This effort provides extraordinary insight into the experiences of enslaved individuals and families who passed through philadelphia between 1852 and 1857 and the covert networks that aided their escape. William still was an africanamerican abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist. William still underground railroad volume one 2933. Leading african american abolitionist william still remains the 19thcenturys foremost chronicler of. The underground railroad was a network of people, african american as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped slaves from the south. The book was published in 1872 based upon journals still kept while helping fugitive slaves. Together with sketches of the largest stockholders, and most liberal aiders. The underground railroad records slavery in the united states still, william. Sep, 2018 william still worked with the black youth, and was concerned about those who were separated from their families, and had nowhere to go.
William still and the underground railroad kathleen stevens. Not only did he help the fugitive slaves but he kept records on their lives, so that they would be able to reunite with other family members who made the travel. The underground railroad 9780486455532 by william still. Black then meet the father of the underground railroad. William still, philadelphia abolitionist african american. This edition includes a new introduction and 20 illustrations from the original publication.
He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival memos, and. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use. Throughout his life, still fought not only to abolish slavery, but also to provide africanamericans in northern enclaves with civil rights. Still proudly exhibited his book at the philadelphia centennial exposition in 1876.
He lived as a slave with his parents and seventeen brothers and sisters. Still was recognized in 1997 as a leading underground railroad agent in a major center of abolition by the house of representatives. The underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad. William still interviewed all the people he helped to free from slavery via the underground railroad. The underground railroad by william still booksamillion. The project weaves new connections between the manuscript journal and published book of william still, known as the father of the underground railroad. In the long list of names who have suffered and died in the cause of freedom, not one, perhaps, could be found whose efforts to redeem a poor family of slaves were more christlike than seth concklins, whose noble and daring spirit has been so long completely shrouded in mystery.
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. As wrti continues to mark black history month, we feature an album that celebrates, through contemporary music, the writings of the 19thcentury philadelphia abolitionist william still still wrote a book titled the underground railroad in 1872, which detailed his efforts aiding runaway slaves. 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 underground railroad by william still overview in the long list of names who have suffered and died in the cause of freedom, not one, perhaps, could be found whose efforts to redeem a poor family of slaves were more christlike than seth concklins, whose noble and daring spirit has been so long completely shrouded in mystery. And to this day, his book contains some of the best evidence we have of the. Underground railroad safe house discovered in philadelphia. 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. Write an essay constructed around who william still was, what was the issue at hand with the underground railroad in regards to african freedom, or a letter as if the students were writing to william still as parents of the children who were being held in bondage. The underground railroad william still audiobook and. Deeply moved by the stories of the fugitive slaves he helped conduct northward, still took his committee recordkeeping to.
William still is youngest child of levin and sidney steel. Uncovering william stills underground railroad historical. In 1872 william still wrote the classic book the underground railroad about the heroism of the runaway slaves, many of who stopped at his house. The underground railroad records audiobook by william. Jun 22, 2012 william still was one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad. William still is best known for his selfpublished book the underground railroad 1872 where he documented the stories of formerly enslaved africans who gained their freedom by escaping bondage. The underground railway this is one of the most remarkable volumes of the century. The history of the underground railroad is an epic of high drama one of the most ambitious political undertakings in american history bordewich, bound for canan, 4. The william 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 americas. William still october 7, 1821 july 14, 1902 was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Jul 24, 2019 how harriet tubman and william still helped the underground railroad one was the most famous conductor and the other was a notable station master and together they helped guide. 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. After the war, his children persuaded him to write the story of his exploits and the people he helped. William still and the underground railroad townsend.
He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom. Levin, still s father escaped slavery in maryland for freedom in new jersey. Except john brown, it is a question, whether his rival could be. In the winter of 1852, a group of philadelphia abolitionists dedicated to assisting runaway slaves in their flight to fr.
Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. The date of william still s birth is used by the registry and by most sources, though he gave the date of november 1819 in the 1900 census. What digital items do customers buy after viewing this item. 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 18211902, a conductor on the underground railroad who helped nearly 800 enslaved african americans to freedom. The underground railroad was published in 1871 from stills records and diaries. The william still story tells the dramatic story of william. 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. Still s book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. The underground railroad pulitzer prize winner national book award winner oprahs. 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 800 people escape enslavement. Mar 22, 2018 in 1872, still published hundreds of stories of those fugitives in a book aptly titled the underground railroad, among the most comprehensive firstperson accounts of the underground.
Still was determined to get as many runaways as he could to freedoms land, smuggling them. Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the. The advertisement used in this lesson documents the reaction by prominent abolitionists and press. In 1872, still published hundreds of stories of those fugitives in a book aptly titled the underground railroad, among the most comprehensive firstperson accounts of the underground. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom land, and their journey toward liberty. Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in canada. He was also a writer, historian, and civil rights activist. 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. The volume document the stories of escaped slaves, and remains the only firstperson account of black activities on the underground railroad written and selfpublished by an africanamerica.
Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery. Historically significant document by still, a freeborn black man who became an author and abolitionist movement leader in philadelphia, pa. The underground railroad by william still, paperback barnes. 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. Stills meticulous entries offer unique insight into the secretive network known as the underground railroad. 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. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom.
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. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and asneeded basis. Stills the underground railroad is the only first person account of black activities on the underground railroad written and selfpublished by an. This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. He kept careful records, including short biographies of the people, that contained frequent railway metaphors. Its publication has only been made possible by a combination of circu. Three years ago, that book inspired the pulitzerwinning contemporary american. In bringing you these stories, librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. The william still house was added to the philadelphia. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival.
He was a conductor on the underground railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. In william stills book the underground railroad, the author expands on the story of peter still, a former slave, and seth concklin, a white abolitionist. The underground railroad by william still, paperback. He helped establish an orphanage and the first ymca for blacks in philadelphia. William still, 1886 antislavery movements 780 pages. It is heartbreaking to read and uplifting at the same time. Aug 19, 2019 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. How harriet tubman and william still helped the underground railroad one was the most famous conductor and the other was a notable station master and together they helped guide. The johnson house historic site, an underground railroad station and house museum. Read the underground railroad authentic narratives and firsthand accounts by william still available from rakuten kobo. William still, sometimes called the father of the underground railroad, helped hundreds of slaves to escape as many as 60 a month, sometimes hiding them in his philadelphia home.
William still, stills underground rail road records 3rd ed. William still is often called the father of the underground railroad. Two members of the still family, william and james still, were conductors people who helped out along the way. Still believed that the book 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. The stories themselves are written by the escaping slaves, bounty hunters, etc in the form of letters and correspondence.
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. He was a black abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and activist. All smithsonian museums and smithsonian libraries locations continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of covid19. This present value article is the first in a short series of two on the subject of historic preservation in philadelphia. 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. Stills work with runaways is documented in his seminal text, the underground rail road. The underground railroad, part 1, the underground railroad, part 2, the underground railroad, part 3, the underground railroad. 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.
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