Illustrated Journey Along the Underground Railroad
New York State, and especially upstate's old "burned-over" district, was fertile soil for the flowering of abolitionism. This illustrated talk places the story of the Underground Railroad in the context of the religious and reform movements of the pre-Civil War period, including endeavors such as the temperance crusade and the women's rights campaign. Frederick Douglass, Gerrit Smith, Harriet Tubman, Beriah Green and many others come to center stage, as do important events such as the "Jerry Rescue" in Syracuse in 1851. Audiences are encouraged to share their local stories of "Freedom's Trail."
- April 26, Noon
- SLCHA
- Flyer
- NYCH page about this lecture
Harriet Tubman: Myth, Memory, and History
This illustrated lecture tells the story of how a poor and illiterate black woman, once enslaved but self-liberated, became the dominant symbol of the Underground Railroad and an inspiration today for Americans of diverse backgrounds and reform interests. Audiences hear of the exciting findings of the latest research regarding Tubman the historical person, and of the many ways in which her life has been celebrated by writers, artists, and other creative spirits. Dr. Sernett has completed a book on the interplay of myth, memory and history during the years when Tubman was being canonized as an American saint.
Dr Milton C Sernett
Professor Emeritus of African American Studies and History, Syracuse University
Dr Milton C Sernett, Professor Emeritus, taught at Syracuse University for over thirty years. He has published eight books and numerous articles and essays, many of them dealing with American abolitionism, the Underground Railroad, and African American history. His current book project is a history of the "the great tractor wars" of the 1920s and the influence of Henry Ford on American farm life.