Freedom, the Hidden History of the underground railroad. Uncoveredbout how he ,he story of Sidney Howard gay one of the key organizers behind helping escaped slaves in new york city. Good evening. I am happy to be here with my esteemed colleague and friend, eric phonfoner. Some years ago, i was doing some research and as i approached the library desk to retrieve archival material, i saw that the staff was animatedly whispering and pointing, because there had just been a celebrity sighting. Eric foner. [laughter] you when i asked you what are doing, i got a modest, oh just checking out some things about the underground railroad. Book,e have is gateways to freedom. I look forward to interacting with you later this evening. Eric, you tell your readers that the story of the underground railroad is a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces missing. Usually, historians think of a question and go in search of documents. Sometimes we find extraordinary documents and let questions emerge. Why dont you t
Was animatedly whispering and pointing because there had been a celebrity sighting. Foner, of course. Doing,asked what you are i got a modest, checking things out about the underground railroad. Now of course, we have his magnificent book, gateway to freedom, about the underground railroad. You tell your readers of the story of the underground railroad, it is like a jigsaw puzzle with many pieces missing. Usually historians think of a question and go in search of documents to answer that question, but sometimes we find extraordinary documents and then left questions emerge from those documents. Why dont you tell us about the documents you found and the questions that it raised for you . Eric is this on . First of all, thank you to the museum for inviting me here. Thank you to martha for interrogating me. It is like being back in my oral exams from years ago. Yes, i have written a good number of books. Do you choosew what to write about . There is somet historical question that interest
Century. The author recounts the development of the new York Vigilance Committee in 1835 and other organizations throughout the north that provided protection against slave kidnappings that occurred in new york city. He speaks with edna green medford, chair of the History Department at howard university. Host we are joined today by professor Eric Foner Dewitt Clinton professor of history at Columbia University. He is the author or editor of two dozen volumes, many of them award winners, including the fiery trial Abraham Lincoln and american slavery, which won the pulitzer, bancroft and lincoln prizes in 2011. Professor foner, thank you for joining us today. Guest thanks very much for having me. Host gateway to freedom the Hidden History of the underground railroad, how did you arrive at this subject and this title . Guest well, the title, i guess, is meant to reflect its the book centers on new york city although it deals with a lot of other places, but the title is meant to suggest th