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Literature
Associated with Mural Themes
Among the many learning opportunities that may be generated by a mural
such as The Underground Railroad are exercises in literature. Here are
four such exercises, each related to the great issues of Abolition and
the Underground Railroad:
- "Cross Over the Line"
A one-act play by Mrs. Eleanor Franz, a retired English teacher, village
historian, and custodian of the legacy of the Underground Railroad in
Dolgeville, New York.
Note from the Teacher:
A few years ago, while exploring microfilm of our local
newspaper, the Rome Daily Sentinel, I came across two brief articles from
July 1853.
- Philadelphia, July 22
A man named William Brown was arrested here this morning, charged with
being A fugitive slave and the property of J.C. Howard of Cecil Co.,
Maryland. He declared He is free, and owns a small farm in New Jersey.
Case will be heard tomorrow.
- Philadelphia, July 26 The writ of habeas corpus in the Fugitive Slave
case was argued this morning before Judges Thompson and Allison. The
court was asked to remand the prisoner into the Custody of his surety
to answer his charge before the Criminal Court. It was decided That
the surety having failed to bring his application properly before the
Court Ð not Having taken out bail Ð there was no claim upon the prisoner.
The habeas corpus was Dismissed and the prisoner was remanded to the
custody of the U.S. Marshall for removal To Maryland under a writ of
the U.S. Commissioner.
These references point to a man named William Brown, occupying
a few lines in an ancient newspaper, is evidence of the power of the Fugitive
Slave Act of 1850. After the passage of this law, any northern black,
fugitive or not, could be easily arrested and sent to a slave state. The
complete story of William Brown will remain unknown to us but I did find
a Rome Free Academy student who was interested in using these primary
sources in a creative writing exercise. The author is Emily Blake, a senior
at Rome Free Academy, and she says she "loves creative writing, because
there are no limits to what can be poured from one's imagination." Next
year Emily will be attending Niagara University, studying in the Elementary
Education program with a concentration in English.
Related Internet Links
--these links are external to The New Deal Art web site:
Underground Railroad Signals
Information on the different ways people communicated along the Underground
Railroad. Click the link and then type "Underground Railroad Signals"
in the search box. Their is a fee to view this article.
Hidden
in Plain View : The Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad
a book about the Underground Railroad Quilt Code.
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