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Primary sourceBook1872

The Underground Rail Road Records

William Still · 1872

William Still's 1872 compilation of Philadelphia Vigilance Committee records, documenting freedom seekers Tubman guided through the city.

Documents the freedom seekers Tubman personally guided through Philadelphia on the Underground Railroad.

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Plain brown cloth book cover with faded, mottled texture and a lighter edge along the spine on the left side. No title or text is visible on the cover.
William Still, The Underground Rail Road, 1872. Library of Congress / Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

About this source

What it is

This 1872 book by William Still, an abolitionist who led the Philadelphia Vigilance Committee, compiles records from his journals documenting people who escaped slavery through Philadelphia. It is held by the Library of Congress and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Why it matters

Still's records document the groups of freedom seekers that Harriet Tubman brought through Philadelphia on her rescue missions. The book is a rare firsthand record of the Underground Railroad's operation, showing the network of people, including Still himself, who worked alongside figures like Tubman.

Look closer

  • Why might someone like William Still have kept detailed written records of secret and illegal activity?
  • What does this source tell us about the people who helped freedom seekers, beyond Tubman herself?
  • What risks did keeping such records involve?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Harriet Tubman on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Eliza Ann Brodess · 3 October 1849

Black-and-white studio portrait of a standing woman in a dark long-sleeved dress with a white collar, buttons down the bodice, and a tasseled key at her waist. Her hand rests on a draped chair; a hat and coat lie on a fringed stool, and a draped table stands at left against a plain backdrop with a column.Photograph

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Scan of a dark brown cloth book cover with a worn, faded light-colored title block at the top left, too faded to read clearly. The rest of the cover is plain, with a visible spine edge along the left side.Book

Secondary source

Harriet, the Moses of Her People

Sarah Bradford · 1886

Sepia carte-de-visite portrait of a seated Black woman in a dark long-sleeved dress with a white collar and a light checked skirt, leaning her arm on a spindle chair. Handwritten signature reads Harriet Tubman. Red and cream border.Photograph

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Carte-de-visite Portrait of Harriet Tubman

Benjamin Powelson · c. 1868-1869

Scanned handwritten General Affidavit form, filled in by hand, with a title printed at top. The text describes a claim for services as nurse and cook in hospitals and as commander of scouts during the Civil War. Signatures of affiants appear at the bottom, including Harriet Tubman's name and her mark.Document

Primary source

General Affidavit of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman · 1898

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