Frederick Douglas was born into slavery on a farm in Maryland in 1818. Although it was illegal for slaves to learn to read, Frederick asked poor white boys to teach him while he ran errands.

He escaped to freedom in 1838. He worked for the abolitionist newspaper, the Liberator, before starting a paper of his own. Douglas gave speeches about the horrors of slavery and offered his house as a stop on the Underground Railroad. He wrote three books, including The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, 1881.

Douglass was a friend of Abraham Lincoln and was invited to the White House after Lincoln's inauguration. A leader in the struggle to end slavery and secure civil rights, his greatest hope was to see blacks and whites living together in peace, but his hope was never fulfilled during his lifetime.

A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman
by David A. Adler
Illustrated by Samuel Byrd

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery on a Maryland plantation in 1820. A rebellious child, she did not always do as she was told. She hated being a slave and escaped to the north on the Underground Railroad in 1849.

During the next ten years, she used the money she earned at odd jobs to return to the south and lead 300 slaves to freedom. She was called "General Tubman" for her strength and bravery. Harriet went on to work as a nurse and spy for the northern army in the Civil War. She fought for women's right to vote and also helped to open a home for poor and elderly black people.

Harriet was admired and loved by the many people who knew her. She was a conductor on the railway to freedom, a "Moses" to her people.

Topekan Re-creates John Brown

Topeka actor and amateur historian Marvin Stottlemire has created a theatrical presentation of John Brown's life. Based on Brown's own words, it presents the controversial figure as he himself wanted to be seen.

"Rather than take issue with what sort of person John Brown was," Stottlemire said, "I present him as he wanted to be seen. He was a prolific writer and, except for a few transition sentences, the whole presentation is in his own words."

Stottlemire's presentation has been enthusiastically received by both historical societies and schools and is available in elementary, middle and high school versions. For further information contact Marvin Stottlemire at (785)232-6765.

John Brown Sites & Organizations

John Brown Memorial Association
5301 Pine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19143

John Brown Heritage Association
291 Park Avenue
Meadville, PA 16335

Osawatomie Historical Society
P.O. Box 134
Osawatomie, KS 66064

John Brown Farm
State Historic Site
Lake Placid, NY 12946