• Slavery in America and the Underground Railroad

When: September 13, 2017, 7:00PM
Where: Levi E. Coe Library, 414 Main Street, Middlefield, CT 06455
What: From the perspective of someone with biracial family ties, Dr. Rankin will chronicle the development of slavery in America and the heroic efforts of those who championed the abolishment of slavery. The origin and development of the underground railroad will be discussed. The related roles of Harriet Beecher Stowe through her book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Abolitionists John P. Parker, Rev John Rankin, William Lloyd Garrison and many others will be shared through a slide presentation, including recent excavations undertaken at the house of Reverend Rankin, in Ripley, Ohio.

> A forum will be provided for folks to share their thoughts on racism today and ideas to mitigate the various forms of its continuing expression in America.

> To see samples from the slide presentation, please click Selected Slides.

> For an article from the New Haven Register discussing the forum and its background, from March 30, 2017, please click NH Register Article.

> For an article from the Hartford Courant, from April 4, 2017, also discussing the forum and its background, please click Courant Article.

> To see a reprint of an article written by Dr. Rankin on Daniel Hand, a subject of either his talk or of the forum afterwards, please click Daniel Hand.

> For information on the Rev. John Rankin information, please click here.

> The speaker, Dr. Rankin, a retired Yale trained physician and surgeon, is a member of the Madison Historical Society, the Friends of the Office of State Archaeology, Friends of Hammonasset, the National Abolition Hall of Fame and St. Andrews Church, Madison, CT.

> To see a video of a discussion between Dr. Rankin and Jan Doyle, on an episode of Branford Public Television's "Classroom Connections" show in this web site, where this subject is discussed -- including a book on this subject: Beyond the River: The Untold Story of the Heroes of the Underground Railroad by Ann Hagedorn, please click YouTube Video to access item 19.