A capacity crowd gathered Sunday afternoon in the Lutheran Seminary’s Valentine Hall for a presentation of a video documentary and panel discussion on “The Underground Railroad in South Central Pennsylvania.” The program was sponsored by Pathways to Racial Justice and featured a video in the Keystone Oral Histories project by former teacher Bryan Wade. The panel featured Pathways co-chair and activist Bettye Baker; Dr. Scott Hancock, Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at Gettysburg College; local historian Deb Sandoe McCauslin; and social studies teacher and Ward 3 Council member Alisha Sanders.
The 90-minute documentary opened with a discussion of why South Central Pennsylvania was such an active area for Underground Railroad activities and proceeded to profile these activities in York, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lancaster counties. It featured the work of local activists such as Agnes Girst, Jonathan Mifflin, William Goodridge, and Ezekiel Baptiste (York; Edward Matthews, Basil Biggs, and Thaddeus Stevens (Adams); and equally prominent local leaders in the other counties.
Commenting in the video, Hancock noted that this was “the first inter-racial freedom initiative in the United States.”
The video presented an impressive level of detail, especially considering that the Underground Railroad was highly secretive and that good records are hard to come by. It featured appearances by many historians, including most of the panelists, as well as Jim Schmick, Cooper Wingert, Scott Mingus, and Matt Pinsker of the House Divided Project at Dickinson College.
“People think of the Underground Railroad as a network of safe houses; in reality, it’s a network of people,” said Pinsker.
In the discussion after the showing, McCauslin reflected on the unique nature of Gettysburg. “We had the largest battle, and Lincoln gave his speech here. We’re still working on it.”
Bettye Baker reflected on 70 years of Civil Rights activism: “You think the battle is won, you find out it’s not won, and you keep pushing.” Foreshadowing a topic that dominated the Q&A, she called for the video to be shown to students at Gettysburg High School.
Hancock termed the Underground Railroad “a central part of what has constructed the country as we know it.” Noting that the activities of activists were a central complaint of seceding states, he commented, “It’s not unreasonable to say, without them, there’s no Civil War…. The fact we’re not able to wrestle honestly with the truth is why we are where we are.”
Sanders commented, “The more I research this, the more I want to make sure my students know how important the Underground Railroad was.” In response to a question, she acknowledged the environment we live in, noting that when a national group best known for banning books arrived in town, they identified her as a teacher who taught critical race theory.
An active Q&A session following the panel discussion focused on how to get information like this into the schools and the obvious parallels between the Underground Railroad era, with its activists and slave catchers, and present-day worries about mass deportations.
It was noted that the Adams County Democratic Committee is hosting a workshop on how to assist undocumented residents on March 14.
Baker observed that, in addition to schools, “one of our objectives is to get this at the Majestic.”
Featured image caption: Wade, McCauslin, and Baker.
Leon Reed, freelance reporter, is a former US Senate staff member, defense consultant, and history teacher. He is a 10 year resident of Gettysburg, where he writes military history and explores the park and the Adams County countryside. He is the publisher at Little Falls Books, chaired the Adams County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee and is on the board of SCCAP. He and his wife, Lois, have 3 children, 3 cats, and 5 grandchildren.
Will video be shown again? Locally in Gettysburg? At ULS location? We had not been made aware of the recent public viewing until after that evening. We hope we and others can view. Can we see on YouTube?
Thank you.
Ms. Folkemer, plans are in the works to have a screening at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg possibly in April of 2025.
Pathways to Racial Justice appreciates Leon Reed’s excellent coverage of the film we support by Bryan Wade, The Underground Railroad in South Central Pennsylvania. Officials at our nation’s highest levels of government are trying to turn the clock back to the historical injustices of the 1950s. This film is essential to show the courage and grit of our ancestors, both Black and White, who fought for justice and equality. It informs our understanding and lays the groundwork for the knowledge essential to citizenship and the need for its protection.
Thanks for your kind words. I was so impressed with both Mr. Wade’s documentary and the panel discussion. I especially noted Dr. Hancock’s comment that arguably, without the efforts of William Goodridge and Basil Biggs and the rest, there may not have been a Civil War. It is essential that we get this material into the classroom.
Mr. Reed thank you for your coverage of this screening and panel discussion.
can I watch it on u-tube?