Thank you to the contributing authors to the Sailing to Freedom volume, our keynote speaker, Fergus M. Bordewich, and other historians for a conference that examines the historical record and recent research about the maritime Underground Railroad.
The assembled scholars and historians shared their various views and expertise about the experiences of freedom seekers and those who assisted their escape from enslavement through the maritime Underground Railroad. The conference was presented in partnership with the New Bedford Historical Society, the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
Presentations and lectures were held on September 23, with September 24 reserved for visiting Underground Railroad sites in New Bedford. The conference was free and open to the public.
Thank you to the team who inspired, curated, and implemented this exhibition and conference:
We also extend our deepest gratitude to the New Bedford Historical Society and their dedicated team. Their strong communication, collaborative spirit, and unwavering support made the Sailing to Freedom Exhibit a reality. We thank them for every aspect of their invaluable involvement.
Michael Dyer & Timothy Walker: Co-curators of the “Sailing to Freedom” exhibition.
Lee Blake: New Bedford Historical Society, President.
Digitally Curated By: Mansa Consulting, Inc.
