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. For most of the years i have lived, the escape of fugitives from slavery, and their efforts to baffle the human and other bloodhounds who tracked them, formed the romance of american history. 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. William still william still used books, rare books and new books. In bringing you these stories, librivox volunteers are reading from the 1878 edition. 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. Numerous fugitives stories are documented in the 1872 book the underground railroad records by william still, an abolitionist who then headed the philadelphia vigilance committee. More items available under broader and related terms at left. 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 underground railroad by william still, paperback.
William still influential people of the underground railroad. Underground railroad, part 1 by william still free at. William still is youngest child of levin and sidney steel. Topics underground railroad, fugitive slaves united states, antislavery movements united states publisher porter collection gettysburgcollege. The underground railroad william still audiobook and. The underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad.
According to still, the passengers of the underground railroad were physically and intellectually above the average order of slaves, they were determined to have liberty even at the cost of life. The perilous lure of the underground railroad the new yorker. The underground railroad wikisource, the free online. The compelling story of one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad, comes to life in the new 60minute documentary underground railroad. Apr 27, 2017 this was an excellent book that portrayed the stories of escaping slaves on the underground railroad. From these runaway slaves, still heard painful stories of humiliation and cruelty, along with inspiring accounts of their determination to escape. First published in 1872, william still s 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. 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. 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 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. And to this day, his book contains some of the best evidence we have of the.
William still is often called the father of the underground railroad. William still s most popular book is the underground railroad. The underground railroad was published in 1871 from stills records and diaries. The underground railroad by colson whitehead, paperback. At its peak, nearly 1,000 slaves per year escaped from slaveholding states using the underground railroad more than 5,000 court cases for. 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 consisted of meeting points, secret routes, transportation, and safe houses, all of them maintained by abolitionist sympathizers and communicated by word of mouth. Jan 31, 2012 the compelling story of one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad, comes to life in the new 60minute documentary underground railroad. The underground railroad by william still, 9781499329278, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. 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. The williams still story is the story of a humble philadelphia clerk who risked his life shepherding runaway slaves to freedom in the.
Still was also one of the most successful black businessmen in the history of the city of philadelphia. He was a conductor on the underground railroad, businessman, writer, historian and civil rights activist. The underground railroad by william still kansas city. William still national underground railroad freedom center. It is considered the most complete firsthand account ever written of the men, women, and children who rode the legendary railroad to freedom. 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. 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.
Stills records of those who passed through the philadelphia station are some of the best. The underground railroad by william still waterstones. Buy the underground railroad by william still from waterstones today. 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. Read the underground railroad authentic narratives and firsthand accounts by william still available from rakuten kobo. The underground railroad by william still free ebook. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Levin, still s father escaped slavery in maryland for freedom in new jersey. Books by william still author of the underground railroad. Topics underground railroad, fugitive slaves united states, antislavery movements united states publisher porter. The underground railroad, by contrast, was personal.
William still was born october 7, 1821 in burlington county, new jersey, to. He was a prominent figure in the underground railroad as head of the philadelphia vigilance committee. The underground railroad did not have a headquarters, nor were there published guides, maps, pamphlets, or even newspaper articles. It is a worthwhile read for anyone who is acquainted with the underground railroad or who wants to get the story from the point of view of those who are not necessarily in the history books. This was an excellent book that portrayed the stories of escaping slaves on the underground railroad. The book, the underground railroad by william still, begins with a record of facts, authentic narratives, and letters from slaves that are trying to escape enslavement via the underground railroad.
It was my good fortune to lend a helping hand to the weary travelers flying from the land of bondage. Its protagonist, cora, is among several africanamerican men and women enslaved on a georgia plantation and facing a spectrum of savage indignities to their bodies and souls. 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. Librivox recording of the underground railroad, part 1 by william still. Still was determined to get as many runaways as he could to freedoms land, smuggling them. Schomburg center for research in black culture, manuscripts, archives and rare books division, the new york public library. The william still story tells compelling and lesser known stories of one of north americas greatest sagas. When the work of the ugrr was done, he put together an account of the slaves escaping to the north. 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 was the director of a complex network of abolitionists, sympathizers and safe houses that stretched from philadelphia to what is now southern ontario. The william still story dvd,this is the compelling story of william still, one of the most unheralded individuals of the underground railroad, and details the accounts of black abolitionists who had everything at stake as they helped fugitives follow the north star to canada. Levin, stills father escaped slavery in maryland for freedom in new jersey. The advertisement used in this lesson documents the reaction by prominent abolitionists and press. 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.
Buy the underground railroad by william still isbn. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. Stories of the underground railroad 1941, by anna l. When the civil war ended and slavery was abolished, william still published his journals as the underground railroad. William still was one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad. William still the underground railroad records is an 1872 book by william still, who is known as the father of the underground railroad. Oct, 2016 after the american civil war, he published his diary as the underground railroad records, in 1872. Still turned his attention to working for civil rights, and to putting together an account, in his. It is heartbreaking to read and uplifting at the same time. Deeply moved by the stories of the fugitive slaves he helped conduct northward, still took his committee recordkeeping to. Jun 22, 2012 william still was one of the most important, yet largely unheralded heroes of the underground railroad. 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. 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.
According to still, the passengers of the underground railroad were physically and intellectually above the average order of slaves, they were. William still and the underground railroad townsend press. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. 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 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 civil war.
May 12, 2014 the underground railroad by william still, 9781499329278, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Still1 included his carefully compiled and detailed documentation about those that he had helped escape into the pages of the underground railroad records. William still has 29 books on goodreads with 5164 ratings. The stories themselves are written by the escaping slaves, bounty hunters, etc in the form of letters and correspondence. With his writing skills, william wrote and is known for his book called the underground railroad 1872 turner, 20. He lived as a slave with his parents and seventeen brothers and sisters. The book chronicles the stories and methods of some 649 slaves who escaped to freedom via the underground railroad. When the work of the underground railroad was done at the conclusion of the civil war, mr. Before the american civil war, still was chairman of the vigilance committee of the pennsylvania antislavery society.
Stills book, the underground railroad 1872, is one of the most important historical records we have. The william still story tells the dramatic story of william. William stills most popular book is the underground railroad. The underground railroad wikisource, the free online library. This book is one of the few that includes real information about real slaves. The underground railroad by william still read free book. Throughout his life, still fought not only to abolish slavery, but also to provide africanamericans in northern enclaves with civil rights. Still s mother escaped later with the children, changing the family name to still. Apr 15, 2017 buy the underground railroad by william still isbn. William stills book vividly brings to light the hardships and dangers faced by those who escaped slavery via the underground railroad.
William still, himself a son of slaves, was named its secretary and executive director. William still was born in burlington county, new jersey. After the american civil war, he published his diary as the underground railroad records, in 1872. In the winter of 1852, a group of philadelphia abolitionists dedicated to assisting runaway slaves in their flight to fr. William still october 7, 1821 july 14, 1902 was an africanamerican abolitionist based in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Over 14 years, he helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom in canada. Stills mother escaped later with the children, changing the family name to still. Although still recognized the many contributions of white abolitionists, he portrayed the fugitives as courageous individuals who struggled for their own freedom.
The book which you now bring forward as a means to enable you to accomplish your object, i have read and reread with great interest. Oct 12, 2006 the underground railroad william still on. 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. According to the website, this book is still in print today and covers stories of 649 escaped slaves who passed through williams own home. 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. A riveting collection of the hardships, hairbreadth escapes, and mortal struggles of enslaved people seeking freedom. William still was born october 7, 1821 in burlington county, new jersey, to charity and levin still. The underground railroad by william still, paperback barnes.
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