After contemplating the text and context of Thursday’s documents – Sojourner Truth’s women’s rights speech and Frederick Douglass’ Fifth of July speech – the students headed off to their discussion sections to delve deeper into the subtext.  These small group sessions were certainly insightful, but the highlight of the day came in the afternoon.  After lunch, the students had the unique opportunity to attend an Underground Railroad site in downtown Carlisle.

Graduate TA and students gathered on the sidewalk, surrounded by trees

Cooper Addressing the Students Outside the Courthouse

Graduate TA and published author Cooper Wingert guided the students through the legacy of Carlisle’s courthouse.  He described the famous McClintock Riot trial which took place in that very courtroom, and delved into the discrepancies between the federally-mandated Fugitive Slave Act and state-level decisions about forcibly returning freedom seekers.  At the end of his talk, Cooper implored the students to ponder whether they would consider the courthouse an Underground Railroad site.  Was the essence of the Underground Railroad secrecy, or simply the mission to free as many enslaved people as possible?

Students gathered in white pews inside the courthouse's main room

Students Listening to Cooper in the Courtroom

After Cooper concluded, the students were allowed to take pictures posing in the courtroom (while being careful to avoid the historical wooden chairs in a sectioned-off portion).  Several were elated about the opportunity to hold the gavel used in Carlisle court cases.

Student in orange shirt leaning over a desk to use a gavel

Vanessa Wielding the Gavel

Anthony and Finn Posing on the Witness Stand

Students in the Courthouse

Vanessa, Vincent, Erik, and Ava Posing in the Judges’ Seats at the Historic Courthouse

The Courthouse mini-field-trip was an enjoyable way to tie the historical concepts about which the students had been learning to a tangible, nearby building.  After this, the students attended a workshop which walked them through the different elements of the college admissions process, including familiarization with the Common App.  The day ended with a hearty dining hall dinner.  From 7-9 pm, the students met with their graduate TAs in-dorm to brainstorm for their close-reading assignments.  Tomorrow, there will be a campus-wide historical scavenger hunt; stay tuned.