The National Archives Hosts Special Harriet Tubman Program on February 28
Press Release · Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Washington, DC

On Tuesday, February 28, at 7 p.m., the National Archives and the National Park Service present “Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage and Vision.”  This special event marks Black History month and celebrates next month’s opening of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor’s Center.  A distinguished panel will discuss the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman and the ongoing preservation of her Maryland birthplace.  

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Ida Jones, archivist, Morgan State University. Panelists include Elizabeth Clark-Lewis, director, public history program, Howard University, Cheryl LaRoche, American Studies Professor, University of Maryland, and architect Chris Elcock.

This event will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater and on YouTube.  It is free and open to the public.  Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW.  Metro accessible on the Yellow and Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station.  Reservations are recommended and can be made online.  

As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, abolitionist, suffragist, Civil War nurse, commander, and freedom agent, Tubman’s contribution to the causes of universal freedom and equality rank her among the nation’s most significant agents of change.  The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center will immerse visitors in Tubman’s world through informative, evocative and emotive exhibits. A short video introduces the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway. An immersive display explains how the landscape of the Choptank River region shaped her early years and the importance of her faith, family and community.

Related Online Resources on Civil Rights and Black History Month

The Archives holds a wealth of material documenting the African American experience, and highlights these resources online, in programs, and through traditional and social media.  Detailed information and links to records, images and special events online.  See especially:   Congress and Harriet Tubman's Claim for a Pension (Congress in History Lesson Plan).

Related Exhibit Features Section on Civil Rights for African Americans
The National Archives’ “Records of Rights” permanent exhibition uses original documents, photographs, facsimiles, videos, and interactive exhibits to explore how Americans have worked to realize the ideals of freedom enshrined in our nation’s founding documents and how they have debated issues such as citizenship, free speech, voting rights, and equal opportunity. A special section of this exhibit, “Bending toward Justice,” showcases the drive for civil rights for African Americans.

Related new exhibit: Amending America

Only 27 times—out of more than 11,000 proposals—have Americans reached consensus to amend the Constitution. This new exhibit reveals the stories behind why some proposed amendments successfully became part of the Constitution, while others failed to gain enough support. Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery, through September 4, 2017.