The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and First-Hand AccountsCourier Corporation, 2007 M06 25 - 273 pages In the winter of 1852, a group of Philadelphia abolitionists dedicated to assisting runaway slaves in their flight to freedom formed a new assistance group to be part of the Underground Railroad—the General Vigilance Committee. William Still, himself a son of slaves, was named its secretary and executive director. Deeply moved by the stories of the fugitive slaves he helped conduct northward, Still took his committee record-keeping to a higher level. He wrote down, in eloquent narrative form, every detail of their stirring, often heartbreaking histories. Second only to the great Harriet Tubman in the number of freedom-seeking "passengers" he conducted through the Underground Railroad, Still let the words of former slaves speak for themselves. In his journals, he painstakingly reproduced vivid accounts he heard from their very lips. And he added excerpts from letters, newspapers, and legal documents to the already arresting biographical sketches, creating unforgettable portraits of the slaves' deadly struggles, brutal hardships, and narrow escapes. When the Civil War ended and slavery was abolished, William Still published his journals as The Underground Railroad. It is considered the most complete firsthand account ever written of the men, women, and children who rode the legendary "Railroad" to freedom. This edition includes a new Introduction and 20 illustrations from the original publication. |
Other editions - View all
The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and First-Hand Accounts William Still Limited preview - 2012 |
The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and First-Hand Accounts William Still No preview available - 2017 |
The Underground Railroad: Authentic Narratives and First-Hand Accounts Ian Finseth William Still No preview available - 2023 |
Common terms and phrases
abolitionists aforesaid Anti-slavery arrest arrived Baltimore boat bondage brother Brown Canada captain Charles chestnut color Christian clothing colored Commissioner Concklin Cordelia court District Ellen Craft escape father fear feel felt freedom friends Fugitive Slave Fugitive Slave Law hand hard Harriet Harriet Tubman heart Henry Henry Box Brown hired hope intelligent James Jackson Jane John leave letter liberty living looked Maryland master McKim Michael Vaughn miles mind mistress morning mother negroes never night North o’clock owner party passed passengers Passmore Williamson Pennsylvania persons Peter Philadelphia prison received Richmond Robert safe Samuel servants service or labor slave-holders slave-hunters Slavery sold soon suffering Thomas Thomas Garrett thought told took traitorously Underground Rail Road United vessel Vigilance Committee Virginia wife Williamson woman write young