Black Abolitionists
& New Bedford’s Underground Railroad
Saturday, November 5, 2022 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
New Bedford Whaling Museum | 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA
Educators from across the region came for a one-day workshop exploring the historical impact of Black abolitionists in New Bedford, a whaling community that was a critical stop on the maritime Underground Railroad. In addition to prominent figures like Frederick Douglass, there were many Black women and men fighting for freedom in New Bedford such as Martha Bailey Briggs, Polly Johnson, and Jane Jackson. During this workshop we explored this history and their impact.
This workshop featured a visit to the special exhibition Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad; curricular resources from Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the South Coast; and primary sources from the Massachusetts Historical Society, New Bedford Historical Society, and New Bedford Whaling Museum’s archival collections. We will be joined by guest scholar Lee Blake, President of the New Bedford Historical Society.
This workshop has passed, but you can visit the workshop website to explore the resources: https://sites.google.com/
PAST WORKSHOPS
2021
Amplifying History: Learning from the Lives of Women
On June 24 & 25, 2021, New Bedford Whaling Museum hosted this free professional development workshop for educators.
Whaling, Wealth, Women & the Making of New Bedford
On August 3, 2021, New Bedford Whaling Museum hosted a professional development workshop in collaboration with Primary Source as part of a 3-part place-based learning series.
2019
Amplifying History: Learning from the Lives of Women
On June 25 & 26, 2019, New Bedford Whaling Museum hosted a free professional development workshop for educators.