MINUTES 
THIRD MEETING

UNDERGROUND  RAILROAD  ADVISORY COMMITTEE  

OCTOBER 20, 1993
OMNI HOTEL

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 

The meeting was called to order by Underground Railroad Advisory Committee (URAC) Chairperson Blockson at 9:20 a.m.  A quorum was present and later in the morning all members of the committee were in attendance. Mr. Charles Blockson, Chairperson, Ms. Barbara Hudson, Vice Chairperson, Ms. Rose Powhatan, Secretary, Ms. Vivian Abdur-Rahim, Mr. Thomas Battle, Dr. Ancella R. Bickley, Dr. John Fleming, Ms. Glenette Tilley-Turner, Dr. Robin Winks. 

National Park Service representatives present were. Ms. Karen Arey, Ms. Sharon Brown, Mr. Warren Brown, Ms. Dianne Calhoun, Mr. Jim Charleton, Mr. Vincent deForest, Mr. John Marsh, Mr. John Paige, and Ms. Barbara Tagger. (A list of public participants is attached.) 

After a brief discussion of the draft minutes from the last meeting in Buffalo, they were adopted subject to some editorial corrections. These included noting that Dr. Winks was absent due to “circumstances beyond his control,” and clarification that Warren Brown was to provide some budget information, but he was not present at the last meeting. 

Dr. Robin Winks explained his absence from the previous meetings because he had been working on a project in Great Britain during the past year. He apologized to members of the URAC for not being in touch with them directly, noted correspondence explaining his other commitments to the Secretary of the Interior, and assured the committee that he has been keeping up with the written materials about the project and that he intends to continue as an active member of the committee. Dr. Winks noted that his participation would draw on past experience as a Chairperson of the National Park System Advisory Board and visits to almost every unit of the National Park System. 

Chairperson Blockson reiterated concerns about the lack of press attention to the meeting and the project as a whole. Mr. Brown reported that a news release about this meeting had been sent to more than 50 local and national media contacts within the past week. Dr. Winks suggested that press releases go out at least two weeks in advance of meetings, that copies be provided to committee members so they could be shared with local papers, and that committee members be listed on the press releases along with their telephone numbers. This suggestion was accepted as a good idea for future meetings. 

Mr. Brown told the committee that Congress had provided about $250,000.00 for the work on the study so far. Although there was concern that the project would not be funded in the year ahead, Mr. Brown reported that the Underground Railroad (UR) Special Resource Study is on the list of projects that will receive funds in Fiscal Year 1994 according to the appropriations conference committee’s report. The exact allocation has not been determined, but the National Park Service (NPS) expects to be able to continue the project at a full level of effort and hopes to complete a draft report by October, 1994.  

Mr. Jim Charleton and Ms. Barbara Tagger reported on their visits to sites that have potential for designation as National Historic Landmarks (NHL) under the agenda item the National Park Service presented a briefing on the progress of the National Historic Landmark Theme Study. A list of sites for committee use only was distributed, and Mr. Charleton asked for help of the committee in continuing to refine the list. Committee members were invited to assist in reviewing the NHL nominations.  Ms. Tagger noted that not many sites had been identified in the South, but a few were found in Louisiana, Florida, and the Virgin Islands. Chairperson Blockson inquired about sites in Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti. Ms. Tagger explained that the scope of the NPS study for potential NHL sites was limited to sites in the United States or U.S. territories, but that sites in other countries might be addressed through interpretive programs or future research. No sites had been identified in Mexico, and Mr. Blockson suggested that we should be looking for communities rather than specific sites or structures in Mexico. Jim Charleton noted that some sites they visited were found lacking in documentation for relationship to the UR story and might be considered further in a broader NHL study concerning African-American history. 

Ms. Powhatan suggested that more attention be given to sites in Puerto Rico. Ms. Tagger reported that she has requested information from the territorial historic preservation officer there. 

Dr. Fleming asked about how under-representation of sites in the South might be addressed and how NPS criteria might need to be adjusted to address resources that were associated with the independent African-American escapes rather than the homes of the white abolitionists?  Ms. Tagger reported that applications of the criteria were being adjusted to address this concern, and that more attention would be given to oral traditions especially in the South. Chairperson Blockson and others continued to discuss the question about how to recognize important sites like the William Still House when the structure may have been demolished, or when important sites are in neighborhoods that might not be easy to visit. 

Ms. Tilley-Turner reported on her visit to sites in Illinois and provided a written summary for the record (memorandum for the record is attached). Dr. Bickley inquired about opportunities for funds to help save locally significant sites in immediate danger of demolition. A list of such sites might be a useful interim product for the study. 

Dr. Winks inquired about the potential to adjust boundaries of existing National Register of Historic Places Districts to include some threatened sites. He also suggested cooperative arrangements with historically Black colleges and universities to conduct research and documentation. He also commented on the need to agree on concepts before deciding how to address sites lacking remaining structures, and the opportunities to cooperate with state parks, especially to address sites with archeological resources rather than standing buildings. There was general agreement with a motion by Dr. Winks to encourage more involvement by the states to identify sites and promote research through cooperative agreements. Dr. Fleming noted that the record of state historic preservation office’s in documenting sites important to African-American history was deplorable. Ms. Powhatan repeated concerns expressed in previous meetings about inadequate attention to sites and stories related to the Native American’s contribution to the UR experience. 

Chairperson Blockson repeated concerns about the ability of the study to do justice to the topic within two years and suggested that the time constraint was an insult to the history of the UR and Congress should have allocated at least five years to devote to the study. Further discussion by NPS representatives and committee members emphasized that the current study was only one phase of what could be a continuing effort to conduct research and protect sites. 

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 11:30 a.m. After lunch, the URAC meeting was called to order by Chairperson Blockson. The next agenda items were discussed by Ms. Sharon Brown and they were the interpretive themes and handbook discussion (draft copy attached). Ms. Brown explained that there are five key themes followed by sub-themes and these themes may not include all the details that URAC may want recognized, however, these themes set a framework for the URAC to focus on and express to the reader the meaning of the UR. Many of the committee members expressed that the themes could not capture in writing the spiritual values and the hearts of the slaves as they endeavored in the UR movement, in essence these things could be only expressed orally. The committee asked Ms. Brown to clarify language in the themes/sub-themes submitted.  Ms. Brown asked the committee to continue to review the themes and mark-up the copy that she had given them so that their changes/comments could be addressed in a revised draft.   

After further discussion regarding changes in the themes, Ms. Hudson asked that the URAC move to the next agenda items. These items were the response by URAC on study concepts and newsletter (draft copy attached). Mr. John Paige began by assuring the URAC that corrections would be made in the list of names in the draft newsletter. The committee reviewed the concepts and discussed the range of possible concepts suggesting that a new draft be brought to the next meeting in the spring of 1994. Mr. Paige indicated that the committee should mark up the copies of the newsletter he gave them, and make any necessary changes/comments and submit to him so these comments could be addressed. However, he noted that the newsletter should be sent out to the public as soon as possible rather than waiting for the committee to review another draft. 

Dr. Fleming suggested that the newsletter was too dull and that it be reformatted to be more interesting. Chairperson Blockson suggested that the newsletter issue be tabled until NPS could come up with another issue. Mr. Paige expressed that the alternatives will be discussed in the next meeting with corrections and he will make sure that NPS adopts the changes submitted by the committee and he will try to capture the URAC thoughts in the next draft. Dr. Winks asked how many copies of the first newsletter were distributed. Ms. Tagger said that she had a mailing list of 530. Ms. Marquetta Goodwine-Kenndy (public participants) said that she had a much more extensive mailing on computer that could be shared with NPS. Ms. Tagger agreed that she would make that connection with Ms. Kennedy and explore possibilities for expanding the NPS list. 

Mr. Perry Triplett (public participant) commented that the public feels that the URAC needs to be provided with support from legal counsel. He suggested that the committee request the Congressional Black Caucus to appoint legal counsel to represent the committee to assure that NPS was doing what it was supposed to do to support the committee. 

The meeting resumed following an afternoon break at 3:30 p.m. with a presentation on UR study logo by Ms. Powhatan and others had decided that the images of persons such as Mr. John Parker and Ms. Harriet Tubman should appear on the logo (among a few others which might reflect the UR as it was a multi-cultural effort.) Ms. Powhattan began by presenting three proposed changes that the artist commissioned to design the logo had sketched for the URAC to agree upon. These changes included the basic logo used on the newsletter. Several members of the committee had questions and comments about the new design. Ms. Powhattan asked that everyone write their comments and submit to her, and she would discuss with the artist. 

The next agenda items were suggestions by the URAC for publicizing the study concepts, and public involvement and comments regarding the UR study. Dr. Bickley asked that a committee be established that will make contact with the Congressional Black Caucus, and other public groups that will marshall the kind of support needed for this project. The discussion that followed indicated that the existing publicity committee could take on this assignment.      

Chairperson Blockson invited members of the public to comment on the study.  Mr. Woody Pinder, from the Harriet Tubman Organization, Dorchester County, MD., read a letter from the Executive Director, addressed to Chairperson Blockson expressing his organization’s support of the UR study, and further expressing that the URAC will continue to have their support in this worthwhile cause. Mr. Norman Jones (public participant) explained that he had done much research on the UR study, and asked could he be compensated for this research? Ms. Goodwine-Kennedy, expressed how she had used her own resources to let as many people as possible know of the UR project in order to increase the response level to the UR study on a national basis. Through contact with Ms. Tagger and the members of the URAC she has mailed many press releases, and has been effective in getting good advertisement through television and radio. She expressed that she would be a part of a publicity committee or whatever is needed to further expedite the success of the UR project (a copy of her letter and newsletter are attached). 

Mr. Kevin Cottrell (public participant) described some of the challenges and frustrations of his efforts to lead a commemorative march for the UR. He commented that his group had made T-Shirts to help fund their trek. That even with little money for his project, everyone participating in the trek had pulled together and made it a successful march. The public needs to receive more press releases, more advertisement. Chairperson Blockson expressed his appreciation to the public for attending the meeting and the hard work and effort that have provided on behalf of the UR movement. Likewise, Mr. Cottrell expressed his appreciation to Chairperson Blockson for participating in the Canada March, and providing guidance to him and staff. 

Mr. deForest, NPS National Capital Region Office, said that he had brought over an exhibit for the African American Life and History Meeting (ASAALH) which would include information on the UR study, and will provide an informative session by the Committee, and the positive result from participating in the ASAALH is the exposure, as well as the education to the public participants, and well as exposure to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, whose headquarters is in Baltimore. 

Ms. Tagger had arranged for a tour of sites and structures of Baltimore related to the UR study, and Mr. Robert Reyes and Mr. Ralph Vincent came in and invited members of the URAC to participate in the visit to the President Street Station in Baltimore, scheduled for 9:00 a.m., October 21, 1993.   

Chairperson Blockson and others suggested the meeting take place in the spring of 1994 in Washington, DC for two days, and the publicity committee make sure that the members of the Black Caucus along with other influential participants are invited. Ms. Hudson and Dr. Fleming stayed after the meeting and met with volunteers for the publicity committee. 

The third official URAC was adjourned at 5:10 p.m. by Chairperson Blockson.

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