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. After the war, his children persuaded him to write the story of his exploits and the people he helped. He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom. William still is often called the father of the underground railroad. When the work of the underground railroad was done at the conclusion of the civil war, mr. The underground railroad was published in 1871 from stills records and diaries.
The underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad. Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery. The advertisement used in this lesson documents the reaction by prominent abolitionists and press. He was a black abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and activist. Three years ago, that book inspired the pulitzerwinning contemporary american. From these runaway slaves, still heard painful stories of humiliation and cruelty, along with inspiring accounts of their determination to escape. Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery society. 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. The project gutenberg ebook of the underground railroad, by william still this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
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. In the following essay, i would like to share some history related to the underground railroad, william still and black philadelphians that i discovered during my. 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. After the civil war, still published an account of the underground railroad, the underground railroad records 1872, based on the secret notes he had kept in diaries during those years. He was a conductor on the underground railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. The underground railroad by william still booksamillion. Throughout his life, still fought not only to abolish slavery, but also to provide africanamericans in northern enclaves with civil rights.
This shopping feature will continue to load items when the enter key is pressed. And to this day, his book contains some of the best evidence we have of the. 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. 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. We are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a regular and asneeded basis. William still interviewed all the people he helped to free from slavery via the underground railroad. He directly aided fugitive slaves and also kept records of the people served in order to help families reunite.
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 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. Summary by maryann complete list of recordings comprising this book. 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.
Still s book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. The underground railroad, part 1 the underground railroad, part 2 the underground railroad, part 3. 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 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. Underground railroad, part 4 by william still free at. He worked at the pennsylvania society for the abolition of slavery, ostensibly as janitor and clerical help, but his actual work was on the underground railroad, helping escaped slaves from the south find their way to freedom in canada.
He lived as a slave with his parents and seventeen brothers and sisters. His book, the underground railroad, was published in 1872. 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. Still proudly exhibited his book at the philadelphia centennial exposition in 1876. He kept careful records, including short biographies of the people, that contained frequent railway metaphors. Still was recognized in 1997 as a leading underground railroad agent in a major center of abolition by the house of representatives. William still and the underground railroad townsend. The underground railroad by william still, paperback. 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. Iso88591 start of this project gutenberg ebook the underground railroad produced by amy overmyer and the pg online distributed proofreading team. 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. 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. The underground railroad 9780486455532 by william still. The william still story tells the dramatic story of william.
Still was determined to get as many runaways as he could to freedoms land, smuggling them. The randall plantation is about to be inherited by a particularly vicious and cruel man, so cora decides the time is right to join caesar in his escape attempt. 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. The underground railroad by william still, 97817842879, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. This edition includes a new introduction and 20 illustrations from the original publication.
His book has been integral to the history of these years, as he carefully recorded many details of the workings 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. Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in canada. William still and the underground railroad townsend press. William still and the underground railroad kathleen stevens.
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. 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. 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. All smithsonian museums and smithsonian libraries locations continue to be closed to support the effort to contain the spread of covid19. William stills national significance william still. The underground railroad by william still kansas city. The underground railroad by william still, paperback barnes. 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. What digital items do customers buy after viewing this item. The underground railway william still kept careful records of the many escaped slaves who passed through the philadelphia station of the underground r. William still was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania.
He was also a writer, historian, and civil rights activist. He helped establish an orphanage and the first ymca for blacks in philadelphia. William still national underground railroad freedom center. Up for a buyitnow auction is a 1970 hardcover book titled the underground railroad by william stills, as shown. Jun 22, 2012 william still was one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad. Stills work with runaways is documented in his seminal text, the underground rail road. The book measures 6 14 by 9 14 and has 812 inside pages. 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. Stills the underground railroad is the only first person account of black activities on the underground railroad written and selfpublished by an. William stills book vividly brings to light the hardships and dangers faced by those who escaped slavery via the underground railroad. Uncovering william stills underground railroad historical society. The william still story tells compelling and lesser known stories of one of north americas greatest sagas. Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the. William still and the underground railroad townsend library.
Included in the 1886 edition of the underground railroad. William still and the underground railroad bibliography blight, david w. Except john brown, it is a question, whether his rival could be. Reflections on the underground railroad william still. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use. 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 was an africanamerican abolitionist, conductor on the underground railroad, writer, historian and civil rights activist. Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. 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 project weaves new connections between the manuscript journal and published book of william still, known as the father of the underground railroad. 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. William still, clerk for the philadelphia antislavery society for fourteen years, publishes an account of the underground railroad based on his personal notes. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival memos, and ransom notes of the escapees. Stills records of those who passed through the philadelphia station are some of the best.
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. 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. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the. 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. The underground railroad by william still free ebook. 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. Levin, still s father escaped slavery in maryland for freedom in new jersey. 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. William still was a prominent abolitionist in philadelphia during americas last decades of slavery.
He wrote of the stories of the black men and women who successfully escaped to the freedom land, and their journey toward liberty. 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. His book was a major inspiration for my research and writing. Two members of the still family, william and james still, were conductors people who helped out along the way. William still, philadelphia abolitionist african american. 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. After the war, still continued as a prominent businessman, a coal merchant.
William still underground railroad volume one 1233. The underground railroad, part 1, the underground railroad, part 2, the underground railroad, part 3, the underground railroad. Together with sketches of some of the largest stockholders, and most liberal aiders and advisers, of the road. 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. Stills meticulous entries offer unique insight into the secretive network known as the underground railroad. How harriet tubman and william still helped the underground. Underground railroad safe house discovered in philadelphia. A riveting collection of the hardships, hairbreadth escapes, and mortal struggles of enslaved people seeking freedom.
When cora is about 16 years old, she hears about the underground railroad from caesar, a slave recently arrived on the georgia cotton plantation where cora was born into slavery. This book gave me greater insight into exactly what william still did to help escaped slaves. He also meticulously collected the letters, biographical sketches, arrival. The book is an ebony classics edition and was published by johnson publishing company inc. Black then meet the father of the underground railroad. 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. William still is youngest child of levin and sidney steel. 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. 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. The still family hometown, lawnside, new jersey, was a stop on the underground railroad. In bringing you these stories, librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. William still and the underground railroad lesson plan. Together with sketches of the largest stockholders, and most liberal aiders. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom.
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