Escape to Freedom!
A classroom resource for a lesson on fugitive slaves.
The images below represent some of the twenty-nine advertisements in southern newspapers that in William Still reproduced in his book entitled The Underground Railroad and published in Philadelphia in 1872. All of the cases are actual and refer to men and women who reached the office of Still's Vigilance Committee in Philadelphia and there received assistance. Each of the stories is told in the book, on the pages indicated. Still's book has been digitized and placed on line, simply click on the links either above or below. Page number links should take you directly to that page in the book's image viewer. All twenty-nine advertisements are provided for downloading and printing for class use. (Images have been prepared and oriented for best printing results; right click on the "print image" link and select "print") The first six reproductions are provided to give you a flavor of the resource -- the remaining twenty-three are also available through the links below. Instructors will know their students the best but possible uses for these resources could include assigning each a "case" for study or role-playing. Younger students might be especially engaged if they share the names of these very brave people striking out for their freedom. |
June 1856 |
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November 1856 |
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August 1856 |
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November 1857 |
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The story of Rebecca and her family is in Still's book, on page 326. |
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March 1856 |
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Elijah July 1857 Story in Still, page 161 Notice was in a Richmond newspaper View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Hanson and Gusta Story in Still, page 480 Notice was in the Baltimore Sun View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Group of five men, led by Bill Hutton September 1858 Their story is in Still, page 474 View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Jacob, aged 20 April 1858 Story in Still, page 457 Notice in the Baltimore Sun View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Lizzie Amby November 1857 Her story is in Still, page 103 Notice in the Cambridge Democrat, MD View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Samuel Sims and Isaac Dotson September 1856 Their story is told in Still, page 208 View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Adam Smith August 1857 His story is in Still, page 414 The notice was in the Baltimore Sun View Full Image Print Full Image |
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Joe Winston June 1857 His story is in Still, on page 389 The notice was in the Richmond Dispatch View Full Image Print Full Image |
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