Follow the Drinking Gourd:
The Underground Railroad Project

Frederick Douglass and the North Star newspaper.  Frederick Douglass
editing his newspaper,
The North Star.
The "Big Dipper" is
the "Drinking Gourd" and
points to the North Star.
To escape to freedom,
"Follow the Drinking Gourd."
Look for the North Star.
Artist Jacob Lawrence
National Archives and
Records Administration
NWDNS-200-HN-LA-82


Project goals            Student Activities

Follow the Drinking Gourd Main Page

1806 court record for fugitive slaves

Berks County Court Record courtesy of Michelle Morgan

Local Web Pages

Berks County Underground Railroad Research Directory

Slavery in Berks County by Robin Wagar, Fall 2000

Berks County and Maryland Connection
Reading Eagle article, 1934
Courtesy Robin Wagar

Comparative Fugitive From Labor Cases
    (National Archives Constitutional Community)
John Brown (RACC page)
Underground Railroad Sites in Berks County, PA
    Bethel AME Church, North 10th Street, Reading
    Hopewell Furnace National Park, Berks County (National Parks Service)
1790 Quaker Petition with Letter by Benjamin Franklin (RACC page)
Partners

Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland
Reading Area Community College, Reading, Pennsylvania

John Lawlor, Jr., faculty advisor
Last updated 05/20/2002