Historical research on the Underground Railroad is notoriously difficult for multiple reasons. While there is little evidence of an organized Underground Railroad in Howard County, there were local efforts to assist freedom seekers wishing to escape enslavement. If these efforts were made known to local law enforcement, those assisting, enticing, persuading, or inciting these escapes were charged with crimes. The Howard County Historical Society research team focused on these documented cases from our own collections to tell the stories of the brave men and women who attempted to help enslaved people escape to freedom.

Join the research team who led the efforts to complete this exhibit at the
Miller Branch Library on Wednesday, September 9th from 6:30-7:30pm. In a panel discussion format, the team will describe the research processes and tell the stories of some of the individuals involved in these attempted escapes.

Here is more information about the Network to Freedom and HCHS is listed as a site:

The Howard County Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, exhibiting and providing access to the county's rich history and heritage. Our archives and manuscript collection includes court cases dealing with Fugitive slaves and those who aided, abetted and enticed runaways, in addition to ledgers and records of slaveholders. We have identified connections between the County's slaveholders and court cases presented in the District Court dealing with fugitive cases. We are seeking acknowledgement as an archival repository crucial to recounting the history of those who attempted to flee slavery via the Underground Railroad and the fates of those tried in the court system.