Father of the Underground Railroad

William Still.

A new PBS documentary airing February 6, 2012, chronicles the life and legacy of a man known in his time as the “Father of the Underground Railroad.” (Check your local listings for times.)

To learn more about the film, we spoke to executive producer Gordon Henderson. Henderson began his career as a journalist and parliamentary correspondent, and is the founder and president of 90th Parallel Productions. History-enthusiasts may recognize his name as the series producer for the CBC’s Canada: A People’s History.

William Still (c. 1821–1902) was an abolitionist and civil rights activist who helped countless black slaves find freedom in Canada. Perhaps even more important, were the diligent records he kept of the people he helped along the way. In 1872, Still compiled the biographical details, personal narratives, and letters of over 600 fugitive slaves and published The Underground Railroad Records. This work became both a powerful anti-slavery testament and an invaluable historical document.

The one hour documentary, Underground Railroad: The William Still Story, is produced by 90th Parallel Productions in association with Rodgers Broadcasting and WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto. The film features the talented Dion Johnstone in the role of William Still, and also relies on historical consultants and primary documents to bring life to the people and stories contained within Still’s papers. In telling about the struggles and achievements of America’s fugitive slaves, Underground Railroad remembers the important role that Canada played in helping them find freedom.

Other online extensions:

See a brief timeline of the movement to abolish slavery in Canada.
Learn more about Canada's position during the American Civil War.
Read William Still's obituary in the New York Times.
Read or download William Still's book The Underground Railroad: A Record of Facts through The Project Gutenberg.

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Dion Johnstone as William Still. Courtesy of 90th Parallel Productions Ltd.

Slaves working in the fields. Courtesy of Courtesy of Library of Congress.

Free Black family in front of home. Courtesy of Archives of Ontario.

Scene from The Underground Railroad: Still keeping meticulous records of the Freedom Seekers who pass through his station. Courtesy of 90th Parallel Productions Ltd.

Scene from The Underground Railroad: Freedom seekers escaping by boat under the cover of darkness. Courtesy of 90th Parallel Productions Ltd.

Scene from The Underground Railroad: Still is reunited with his brother Peter who has been “sold down the river” after Still’s mother escaped to the North. Courtesy of 90th Parallel Productions Ltd.

Portrait of William Still sitting at a table.

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Current rating: 4.5 (39 ratings)

13/02/2012 11:47:03 AM

We received this comment from Kathleen in Vermont:

I was very pleased to have notice of this program appear on my computer. It reached me through NCURRA out of Plattsburgh, NY. I will forward it to interested friends and make sure I watch the program. My own family lore has it family members were deeply involved in Somerset, NY (Barker) in the UGRR. We have nothing written although my great-grandmother told my mother's cousin during the 1920s or '30s that her father-in-law, supposedly dead from pneumonia after harvesting winter wheat, had actually died from exposure on Lake Ontario because he was so involved with transporting escaped slaves by boat. The winter wheat story was made up. His name was Stephen Haight. His daughter-in-law told Mom's cousin she must never speak of this because the family could lose everything if this information became public. Would appreciate anything you might have in your records about Stephen Haight and his wife, Celia Humphrey Haight. They were Quakers.

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