Events

This program finds Lucy Pettengill, resident of Peoria, IL, in March 1857, soon after the Supreme Court decision of the Dred Scott Case. This decision, and its implications that black people are not citizens of the United States, is the impetus to redouble her efforts of assisting in the abolition and underground railroad (UGRR) activities. This first-person program will cover an overall history of abolitionist movements and actions in Illinois (mostly Western Illinois) up until March 1857 and then will go into detail about what she, as a station keeper, has experienced while assisting freedom seekers.

Since there are so few extant papers in Lucy’s own voice, much of this presentation will be culled from other first-person accounts from conductors on the UGRR in Illinois, whose experiences are very likely similar to Lucy’s.

Laura Keyes graduated from UW-Madison with a Master’s Degree in Library Studies, and is a lifetime member of the Association of Lincoln Presenters. Laura recently won the Excellence in Performing Award from that Association. She devotes much of her non-existent spare time to baking, and caring for her cat Mr. Darcy.

Western Illinois was an active corridor on the Underground Railroad.  Author Owen Muelder will talk many Underground Railroad operators, both black and white who helped Freedom Seekers on their way north through western Illinois toward freedom in Canada.  He will also discuss some of the key figures of the Abolitionist movement in Illinois.

Owen Muelder has delivered more than 300 lectures on the Underground Railroad and the anti-slavery movement to various groups that have included historical societies, service clubs, teachers' associations, and other organizations in Illinois and across the country.  He serves as the Directof of the Galesburg Colony Underground Railroad Freedom Center at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinoi and is the author of The Underground Railroad in Western Illinois.