The First Family of the Underground Railroad -Still Family

The Gist of Freedom's guest host historian Bob Seeley talks with the foremost authority and historian on The Still Family, Investigative reporter and Professor Linn Washington Jr., "The Chronicle of an American First Family," Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 1987.

Buy the new PBS documentary on William Still, The Black Abolitionist, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur . Mr. Still, dubbed the Father of The Underground Railroad in the New York Times, literally wrote the book The Underground Railroad.  Self-published in 1872, The book is a compilation of the secret notes he kept during those years, is regarded as the most authentic account of some of America's most heroic stories. Still risked his own freedom to be able to tell the stories of those who had the courage to run. After meeting his own long-lost brother Peter Gist-Still he was determined to continue to reunite families separated by slavery. His compelling story is one of North America's greatest sagas. 

Professor Washington will also discuss other members of this congressional "American First Family" Dr. James Still, Peter Gist-Still, and many others.  You can learn more about the Stills in Peter Gist-Still's Book The Kidnapped and The Ransom and Dr. James Still, The Recollections of James Still.