NEWS RELEASE                                                          U.S department of the interior

national park service

NEW EXHIBIT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

SENECA FALLS - While providing safe passage for hundreds of escaped slaves, the Underground Railroad helped the men and women, black and white, who were its agents and conductors to learn valuable lessons in working together and taking a stand for their anti-slavery beliefs. These lessons would be applied to other social issues, and lead to the First Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls in 1848.
In honor of Black History Month, Women’s Rights National Historical Park will present a special exhibit, “Underground Railroad Connections with the First Women’s Rights Convention.”

The exhibit will open with a reception and program at 11 a.m. Feb. 3 in the park’s visitor center, 136 Fall St. and will continue through Feb. 28. The reception program will include a concert by the Martin Luther King Jr. Choir of Geneva. Admission to the reception, special programs, and exhibit is included with the daily $2 adult entrance fee.

Many know the story of the Underground Railroad – how slaves fled the South with only what they could carry, traveling by night, pursued and afraid, to reach freedom in the North. Less recognized is the heroism of the conductors, agents and stockholders who risked their businesses, social position and their lives to help guide and protect the slaves. From the beginning of this country, there were laws against assisting fugitive slaves, and following the passage of

EXHIBIT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, widespread arrests of those involved in the Underground Railroad occurred.

The exhibit’s six large panels recall an untold story that gives insight into how the Convention came to be organized and why it was in Seneca Falls, said Park Ranger Jamie Wolfe, exhibit coordinator.

“The First Women’s Rights Convention had roots in the abolitionist movement,” Wolfe said. “The women and men who organized and led the convention knew each other and came here to support each other and many were Quakers and leaders in the anti-slavery movement.”

Lucretia Mott was a founder of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. Quaker Mary Ann M’Clintock, at whose home in Waterloo the Declaration of Sentiments was written, was an outspoken opponent of slavery. Elizabeth Cady Stanton met her future husband, Henry, an abolitionist lecturer, at the Madison County home of her cousin, Gerrit Smith. Both Henry Stanton and Smith were founding members of the New York Anti-Slavery Society and Smith was a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad.
In addition to the exhibit, the Park has planned a series of Saturday programs to observe Black History Month. February 10, Williamson historian Chester A. Peters will talk about the Underground Railroad in Wayne County. His illustrated talk will be at 11 a.m. at the park’s visitor center. He will explain the connections between the men and women of the Underground Railroad and Quakers, Temperance Society members and other groups.

Acclaimed storyteller Alexandria James will return to the park on Feb. 23 and 24 to give three performances of her living history tale, “My ‘Last Jump’ into Freedom.” Dressed in period costume, she recounts the story of a woman who escaped to freedom on the Underground Railroad. “The tale of her courageous adventure and the dedicated people she encountered create an exciting.

EXHIBIT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
educational and entertaining presentation,” James said. The hour-long performances will be at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday and at 1 p.m. Saturday in the visitor center. Groups should call in advance for reservations.

Visitors to the park also will have an opportunity to view the National Park Service’s new web page, “National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom” which tells stories of the Underground Railroad. The web page also may be viewed at www.cr.nps.gov/ugrr.

The National Park Service has received funding to create a national database of Underground Railroad sites. Handouts will be available at the park to help people apply to have their homes and other buildings included in this important resource list.
Wolfe said the park’s exhibit on the connections between the Underground Railroad and the First Women’s Rights Convention and the park’s observance of Black History Month has an important message for the people of the 21st Century. “They show us that great things can happen when people are willing to put aside their racial, religious, cultural or economic differences and work together for a common goal,” she said.

For more information about the programs call the park at 315 568 2991.

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