William still october 7, 1821 july 14, 1902 was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania. The book measures 6 14 by 9 14 and has 812 inside pages. 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 underground railroad was a network of people, african american as well as white, offering shelter and aid to escaped slaves from the south. He directly aided fugitive slaves and also kept records of the people served in order to help families reunite. Uncovering william stills underground railroad historical.
The underground railroad by william still free ebook. The johnson house historic site, an underground railroad station and house museum. William still and the underground railroad townsend. 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. Still was recognized in 1997 as a leading underground railroad agent in a major center of abolition by the house of representatives. Still proudly exhibited his book at the philadelphia centennial exposition in 1876. Still s book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. Sep 07, 2018 a guide to the underground railroad in philadelphia, visit philadelphia.
Underground railroad safe house discovered in philadelphia. 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. 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. The project weaves new connections between the manuscript journal and published book of william still, known as the father of the underground railroad. 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. William still, himself a son of slaves, was named its secretary and executive director. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3. Still turned his attention to working for civil rights, and to putting together an account, in his. 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. Having been, during many years, associated with william still, in laboring for the abolition of american slavery, we heartily bear our testimony to his abundant opportunities for acquiring information relative to the subject of this book. 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.
The stills were the prototypical african american family who lived, worked, and sometimes prospered before, during, and after the civil war. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. The underground railroad by william still, paperback. 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 william still story tells the dramatic story of william still, one of the most important yet largely unheralded individuals of the underground railroad. Paul moravecs sanctuary road illuminates william still. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival memos, and ransom notes of the escapees. He wrote down what the fugitives told him and, after the civil war, published their remarkable accounts in a book entitled the underground railroad. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. William still, philadelphia abolitionist african american. Throughout his life, still fought not only to abolish slavery, but also to provide africanamericans in northern enclaves with civil rights.
The unbelievable story of william still, the father of. And to this day, his book contains some of the best evidence we have of the. William still was the black abolitionist the new york times dubbed the father of the underground railroad. The underground railroad paperback october 12, 2006 by william still author. 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 providing abundant evidence that the human. He was a conductor on the underground railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. William still was born in burlington county, new jersey. Not literally a railroad, the workers both black and white, free and enslaved. He was a black abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and activist.
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. The underground railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the united states during the early to mid19th century, and used by enslaved africanamericans to escape into free states and canada. 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. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and asneeded basis. The underground railroad by william still kansas city. William stills national significance william still. A riveting collection of the hardships, hairbreadth escapes, and mortal struggles of enslaved people seeking freedom. History is replete with the selfless contributions of these black individuals. Iso88591 start of this project gutenberg ebook the underground railroad produced by amy overmyer and the pg online distributed proofreading team. How harriet tubman and william still helped the underground. All smithsonian museums and smithsonian libraries locations continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of covid19. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival. This present value article is the first in a short series of two on the subject of historic preservation in philadelphia. 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.
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. William still national underground railroad freedom center. 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. 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.
The underground railroad, new york, berkley books 1989, isbn. The underground railroad by william still, paperback barnes. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom land, and their journey toward liberty. 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. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom. After the war, still continued as a prominent businessman, a coal merchant. William still was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Stills book was published in three editions and went on to become the most circulated text on the underground railroad. 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. The book was published in 1872 based upon journals still kept while helping fugitive slaves.
Not only did he help the fugitive slaves but he kept records on. William still, clerk for the philadelphia antislavery society for fourteen years, publishes an account of the underground railroad based on his personal notes. In bringing you these stories, librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. William still is often called the father of the underground railroad. The date of william stills birth is used by the registry and by most sources, though he gave the date of november 1819 in the. Dec 29, 2007 william still was the black abolitionist the new york times dubbed the father of the underground railroad. Up for a buyitnow auction is a 1970 hardcover book titled the underground railroad by william stills, as shown. Stills the underground railroad is the only first person account of black activities on the underground railroad written and selfpublished by an. The underground railroad 9780486455532 by william still. Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery. The william still house was added to the philadelphia. The scheme was assisted by abolitionists and others sympathetic to the cause of the escapees.
Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in canada. Beginning in the waning decades of the 18th century on marylands eastern shore, a slave named levin steel confronted his slave master with a demand his owner could not ignore. A guide to the underground railroad in philadelphia, visit philadelphia. 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. 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. William still, the underground railroadphiladelphia youtube. The underground railroad was published in 1871 from stills records and diaries. 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. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom.
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. William still 18211902, a conductor on the underground railroad who helped nearly 800 enslaved african americans to freedom. 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 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. He kept careful records, including short biographies of the people, that contained frequent railway metaphors. Underground railroad, part 4 by william still free at. The underground railroad, part 1, the underground railroad, part 2, the underground railroad, part 3, the underground railroad. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the underground railroad.
Still wrote and distributed a book entitled the underground railroad. The underground railroad by william still booksamillion. 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. Narrating the hardships, hairbreadth escapes and death struggles of the slaves in their efforts of freedom edition august 17, 2016 language. 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. 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. He was also a writer, historian, and civil rights activist. 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 formed a new assistance group in underground railroadthe general vigilance committee. 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. 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. William stills book vividly brings to light the hardships and dangers faced by those who escaped slavery via the underground railroad. 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. When the work of the underground railroad was done at the conclusion of the civil war, mr.
From these runaway slaves, still heard painful stories of humiliation and cruelty, along with inspiring accounts of their determination to escape. The william still story tells the dramatic story of william. The book is an ebony classics edition and was published by johnson publishing company inc. 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 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.
The underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad. Black then meet the father of the underground railroad. The advertisement used in this lesson documents the reaction by prominent abolitionists and press. The underground railroad kindle edition by still, william.
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