William Still and His Freedom Stories

Don Tate tells the little-known story of William Still, who chronicled the lives of those who traveled the Underground Railroad, with words and pictures. Still worked with people escaping from slavery. In the course of doing his work, he serendipitously ran across his own brother who he had never met. He resolved to take notes on those he encountered who were fleeing slavery so he could help reunite families. Later the Fugitive Slave Act made this record dangerous, and Still was forced to hide the books and papers in a cemetery.

Tate was inspired to tell Still's story when he read about his life in The Biographical Dictionary of Black Americans, a book his mother sent him. I hope he will go on to research more of these lives and write more books for young readers.