REPORT TO THE UGRR ADVISORY COMMITTEE

FROM  THE 

NPS UNDERGROUND RAILROAD CHARRETTE 

MATHER TRAINING CENTER
HARPERS FERRY, WEST  VIRGINIA 

JUNE 20 & 21, 1995

Background 

On June 20 and 21, 1995, the National Park Service (NPS) held an Underground Railroad (UGRR) workshop (charrette) at the Mather Training Cener at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The meeting grew out of the UGRR Advisory Committee’s request that the NPS staff review its programs and resources, and develop recommendations that would be useful in fulfilling the mandate of the UGRR study (PL 101-628). 

The director of the National Park Service, in support of the Advisory Committee’s request, directed the National Capital Area to take the lead in bringing together representatives of several national park and program areas, including members from the study team. The format of the workshop was a charrette designed to: 

(1)  Identify how a wide range of existing authorities, funding sources and programs could be focused to help identify, protect and interpret historic properties associated with the UGRR , and

(2)   Identify what actions the NPS can begin to take immediately to implement some of the ideas generated by the UGRR draft study concepts, including those discussed during the charrette. 

Charrette Process 

The Charrettee format was used to stimulate discussion and serious input from all participants and to arrive at recommendations and actions which would address the questions above, posed by the Advisory Committee on the UGRR study.  The strength of the charrette process prevailed, and both useful and creative concepts and recommendations were developed. 

Major Issues Addressed 

The Advisory Committee requested the National Park Service to address two major questions: 

(1)  Identify funding sources and programs that can be focused to help protect and interpret historic resources associated with the Underground Railroad.

(2)  Identify NPS actions which can be taken immediately to implement some of the proposals being developed in the alternatives study. 

Primary Recommendation 

There is need of a national organization or association that would give a national voice to initiatives designed to further local, national and international UGRR actions. The National Park Service should take the lead in the development of UGRR programs, and serve as a catalyst for the creation of an Underground Railroad Association. (Att: A: Vision Statement)
 

The group notes from the charrette presented on the following pages are listed as numbered items to illustrate the wide range of discussion among the participants and the specific action steps they recommended. The complete list of “Questions and Concepts” and “Action Items” are presented first for the reader’s perusal. (Note that action items frequently are accompanied by names of participants who are to follow up on those particular items.) Following these lists, a brief discussion is presented on Priority Areas of Consideration and Priority Actions. In the discussion of Areas of Consideration, specific items contributing to basic points being made in a given paragraph are identified by number in that paragraph. 

Finally, in this synthesis, an effort is made to state Recommendations at a level and in a manner that will be most helpful to the UGRR Advisory Committee in fulfilling its mandate for the UGRR study described in PL 101-628. The Primary Recommendation from this more comprehensive list has been presented above. 

Legislation (PL 101-628) calls for the completion of a special study and an interpretive handbook. The study is approaching completion; the handbook is just started, the first product being a summary brochure. As part of this, the study team had identified, to date, 43 significant UGRR-related properties for designation as National Historic Landmarks. 

Questions and Concepts 

The group raised a number of general questions and concepts.    

(1) A tension exists between the need for more research and the need for immediate action.

(2) This is not just an African-American story, but an international story of liberation. It needs a broader context for it is an all-inclusive story of wide appeal.

(3) It has international connections to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

(4) The UGRR must engage our youth. It must connect with educational efforts (emphasis on children/schools), universities etc. Establish partnerships with colleges and universities for tours and courses related to the Underground Railroad.

(5) Music, sermons, literature, and poetry (often coded messages) are very important ways of getting this story across. 

(6) Is there a national constituency? Without an organized constituency, the project is bound for failure. None is yet organized, but people are working on it. A “national voice” for this project must be provided, 

(7) Explore linkages wherever possible. There are many opportunities for creative partnerships (academic world, etc.). 

(8) How do we utilize the research that has been and is being conducted? 

(9) A holistic approach to-interpretation is needed.   

(10) There is a need to explore partnerships with travel and tourism organizations. How should this idea be marketed and by whom? By NPS? What scope—internationally, nationally, locally, etc.? How does this, or can this, become “profitable”? It is a new opportunity for existing areas to market themselves, to    evolve, expand, reevaluate, etc. 

 (11) “Passport to Parks” program as an example to market and interpret. 

 (12) How do we implement these ideas? 

Action Items 

Build on these questions and concepts, the group generated ideas which NPS could work on immediately or in the near future, using a model developed for the Lowell workshop/conference on Women-related park themes. These can be implemented independent of Congressional action resulting from the special resource study, as part of a Servicewide effort to expand beyond traditional European-centered history themes.  

(1) Submit an Electric Courier update of study to entire NPS to encourage relevant parks to distribute new flyer when it is ready and to elicit additional ideas and recommendations. Use all possible internal communications available, i.e. CC: mail, internet, Interior Department newspaper (Park, Land and Water). 

(2) Develop this summer, with International Affairs Office funding, a US-Canadian exchange, esp. in the Niagara Falls area. Ties to current Canadian Black History initiatives; also tour packaging. Todd Bolton/Frank Faragoso/Jim Charelton, Vincent deForest 

(3) Produce a video clip of Barbara Tagger giving inclusive introduction to entire UGRR theme, emphasizing some of the possibilities and implications for NPS historic sites. 

(4) Organize an internal UGRR work group, a core group of people to continue research and provide consistency to this effort. Develop a clear strategy to identify an ultimate goal for what this effort is about by the time the study report is completed. Stay supportive, do not try to claim “ownership”.  Define the NPS role. Have parks explore creative ways to interpret this theme story. Define protocol for interested parties. Sandy Weber/Todd Bolton 

(5) Set up a CC Mail mailing list of UGRR interested people (up to 80/list). 

(6) Survey selected parks to find out what they may already be doing on the UGRR theme. Use Interpretation’s IDEA Network. Sandy Weber. 

(7) Explore role of UGRR in current feasibility study for El Camino Para Los Texas. Steve Elkinton. 

(8) Participate in the Northeast Volunteer Partnerships Conference at TamiNent, PA, October 19-21, 1995. 

(9) Develop educational materials on UGRR in Teaching With History Places Program. Use in Jr. Ranger program. Training now being planned. Contact: Beth Boland 

(10) Support establishment of a national constituency organization for the Underground Railroad. Offer technical assistance (by RTCA, Institute for Conservation Leadership, or similar group) in organizational development. 

(11) Full release of interpretive brochure to all appropriate groups, programs, and parks. 

(12) UGRR sites and segments from HABS, HRHP, and similar lists. Build on appropriate nominations to develop affiliated areas, etc. (eg. Cincinnati visitor center) Jim Charleton 

(13) Get Underground Railroad sites listed on WWWeb through NPS Homepage. HFC is already helping get parks listed—must be simple to be accessed easily and quickly. Michael Shaver/Sandy Web 

(14) Revise NPS units’ interpretive programs to include UGRR issues, especially IPs. Link to new interpretive management groups (IMPs). Link to broader approach of opening up to all significant themes; try not to be “just another initiative” that parks will just resist. Sandy Weber/Ron Max 

(15) Link UGRR folks to upcoming heritage areas program and legislation. 

(16) Designate appropriate documented trail segments as national recreation trails. 

(17) Possible future NPS-generated legislation. 

(18) Cooperative agreements with states, etc. 

(19) General funding for UGRR for FY97; additional funding for FY96 for handbook. Warren Brown 

(20) Co-sponsor national/international symposia on the Underground Railroad to involve major scholars, interest groups, site managers, etc. 

(21) Develop curriculum guides using UGRR themes. 

(22) Develop UGRR video game, modeled on successful Oregon Trail game. 

(23) Use living history programs, modeled on some excellent ones already up and running (eg. Elgin Settlement in Buxton, Ont.) 

(24) Work on establishing international links to Mexico. Steve Elkinton 

(25) Explore revising and extending the Trail of Tears Historic Trail to include the Underground Railroad. Steve Elkinton 

 (1)    The UGRR commemoration efforts should stress a broadly-inclusive story of wide appeal across ethnic lines and national boundaries. The UGRR story is a multi-racial one and not just an African-American story (2); and it is also an international story of liberation that has international connections to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean (3).

(2)    The UGRR commemoration needs an organized constituency (6); and it should seek out existing potential bases for strong support and attempt to broaden and strengthen that incipient base.

(3)   In building a strong supportive base, the UGRR effort should explore partnerships and other linkages (7). Partnership efforts should look beyond the academic and

cultural fields and explore partnerships with travel and tourism organizations,  thereby being attentive to economic forces and marketing to capitalize on them (10).

(4)   The UGRR commemoration must stress the engagement of youth, connecting with educational institutions for tours and courses related to the Underground Railroad (4).

(5)   A holistic approach to interpretation is needed (9), and music, literature, and poetry can be important media for getting the UGRR story across (5).

(6)   Research and action should be linked in the commemorative interpretation efforts (8,1). Thus, traditional “tension” between research and imperatives for action can be modulated by incorporating opportunities for further research and exploration (by youth and other individual and institutional participants) into the UGRR commemoration. 

As will be noted in the accompanying list of items gleaned from the notes from the charrette, action steps discussed covered a broad range and were addressed to varied levels of action.  In this summarizing, rather than rephrasing and synthesizing items into clustered statements, it has been deemed best merely to classify the level of an action step and/or the audience to which it is addressed. In organizing the specific action items in this way, an effort also is made to indicate priorities through the order of item listing under a given subheading. (The item’s numeric identification in the original master list is indicated at the end of its presentation in this classification scheme.)  

National Park Service Actions 

(1) Organize an internal UGRR work group, a core group of people to continue research and provide consistency to this effort. Develop a clear strategy to identify an ultimate goad for what this effort is about by the time the study report is completed. Stay supportive, do not try to claim “ownership”.  Define the NPS role. Have parks explore creative ways to interpret this theme/story. Define protocol for interested parties (4). 

(2) Produce a video clip Barbara Tagger giving inclusive introduction to entire theme, emphasizing some of the possibilities and implications for NPS Historic Sites (3). 

(3) Submit an Electric Courier update of study to entire NPS to encourage relevant parks to distribute new flyer when it is ready and to elicit additional ideas and recommendations. Use all possible internal communications available, i.e. CC:Mail, internet, etc. (1) 

(4) Survey selected parks to find out what they may already be doing on the UGRR theme. Use interpretation’s IDEA Network (6). 

(5) Explore role of UGRR in current feasibility study for El Camino Para Los Texas (7). 

(6) Build on existing landmark designations and complete additional thematic inventories of UGRR sites and segments from HABS, NRHP, and similar lists. Build on appropriate nominations to develop affiliated areas, etc., eg. Cincinnati visitor center (12). 

(7) Revise NPS units’ interpretive programs to include UGRR issues, especially IPs. Link to new interpretive management groups (IMPs). Link to broader approach of opening up to all significant themes; try not to be “just another new initiative” that parks will just resist (14). 

(8) Develop educational materials on UGRR in Teaching With Historic Places Program. Use in Jr. Ranger program. Training now being planned; contact: Beth Boland (9). 

(9) Obtain general funding for UGRR activities for FY97; obtain additional funding to product handbook during FY96 (19). 

(10) Get Underground Railroad sites listed on WWWeb through NPS Homepage. HFC is already helping get parks listed—must be simple to be accessed easily and quickly (13). 

(11) Link UGRR folks to upcoming heritage areas program and legislation (15). 

(12) Designate appropriate documented trail segments as national recreation trails (16). 

(13) Consider possible future NPS-generated legislation (17). 

National – Scope Actions 

(1) Support establishment of a national constituency organization for the Underground Railroad. Offer technical assistance by RTCA, Institute for Conservation Leadership, or similar group, in organizational development (10). 

State-Level Actions  

(1) Develop cooperative agreements with states (18). 

(2) Participate in the Northeast Volunteer Partnerships Conference at Taminent, PA, October 19-21, 1995 (8). 

Local-Level Actions  

(1) Use living history programs, modeled on some excellent ones already up and running, eg. Elgin Settlement in Buxton. (23). 

International Actions 

(1) Develop this fall, with International Affairs Office funding, a US-Canadian UGRR--------exchange, especially in the Niagara Falls area. This can be tied to existing Canadian Black History initiatives, and to tour packaging (2). 

(2) Work to establish international UGRR links to Mexico, i.e., Trail of Tears (24 & 25) 

National/International Actions 

(1) Co-sponsor national/international symposia on the Underground Railroad to involve major scholars, interest groups, site managers, etc. (20). 

Broad Public Actions

(1) Release interpretive brochure to all appropriate groups, programs and parks (11).

(2) Set up a CCMail mailing list of UGRR interested people (5).

(3) Develop curriculum guides using UGRR themes (21).

(4) Develop Underground Railroad video game, modeled on the successful Oregon Trail game (22). 

__________________________________________________________   

July 20, 1995 

To: Underground Railroad Advisory Committee 
Ms. Vivian Abdur-Rahim,
Dr. Thomas Cornell Battle
Dr. Ancella R. Bickley
Mr. Charles L, Blockson
Dr. John E. Fleming
Ms. Barbara A. Hudson
Ms. Rose Powhatan
Ms. Glenette Tilley-Turner
Dr. Robin Winks

From: Sharon A. Brown, Interpretive Planner, Harpers Ferry Center 

I am enclosing a copy of the draft Underground Railroad brochure currently being developed by the Harpers Ferry Center, Division of Publications. The brochure is scheduled to be delivered to the printer before October 1, 1995. No decision has been made yet concerning the number of brochures to be printed. 

A strategy for distributing the brochure is being devised, which will help determine how many brochures should be printed.  Representative National Park System areas across the country with African-American history associations will receive brochures for display and free hand-outs.  The addresses of two National Park Service areas are provided on the brochure itself, for further information and for brochure copies. Additionally, the Harpers Ferry Center will discuss options for offering the brochure for sale (at minimal cost) with the Government Printing Office. 

Other ideas for distributing the brochure are welcome.  Please feel free to contact me directly. 

Telephone # 303-987-6983
Mailing address:  National Park Service DSC-HFC
12795 W. Alameda Blvd.
Denver, CO   80223 

cc:  Warren Brown
       Dr. James Horton
       Barbara Tagger
       John Paige
       Vincent deForest 

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