William Still

author

William Still

1821–1902

Born to parents who had escaped slavery, he became one of the most important organizers of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia and later preserved its stories in print. His life combined abolitionist work, careful record-keeping, and a lasting commitment to Black freedom and civil rights.

1 Audiobook

The Underground Railroad A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author.

The Underground Railroad A Record of Facts, Authentic Narratives, Letters, &c., Narrating the Hardships, Hair-Breadth Escapes and Death Struggles of the Slaves in Their Efforts for Freedom, As Related by Themselves and Others, or Witnessed by the Author.

by William Still

About the author

With little formal schooling, William Still built a remarkable life through persistence and self-education. Born in Burlington County, New Jersey, in 1821, he moved to Philadelphia as a young man and became deeply involved in antislavery work.

Still is often called the "Father of the Underground Railroad" because of his central role in helping freedom seekers pass through Philadelphia. Working with the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, he interviewed many of the people he assisted and secretly recorded their names, family histories, and journeys—an extraordinary act of courage at a time when those notes could have put lives at risk.

After the Civil War, he used those records to write The Underground Railroad, one of the most important firsthand accounts of that hidden network. He was also known as a businessman and community leader, and his work remains vital not only for the history of abolition, but for the personal stories of the men and women who fought for freedom.