Matthews Reveals Local Links to Underground Railroad
By SARAH ROBERTSOTSEGO COUNTY
The South Central Regional Library Council recently hosted a webinar by Harry Bradshaw Matthews focusing on the role of Cooperstown, Norwich, and Oneonta in the Underground Railroad and the flight of runaway enslaved persons seeking freedom.
The webinar was one of three which, along with a traveling exhibit and a live guide, has been paid for by a grant from Humanities New York. Matthews spoke for about an hour on the role of villages and towns in Otsego and Delaware counties in the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s.
“We were very happy to see a blend of attendees, including library staff who want to know more about the topic as they plan their own programming and displays, historians who are researching this topic and have a deep existing knowledge, and members of the public who were interested in the fascinating stories Mr. Matthews shared,” said Mary-Carol Lindbloom, executive director of the SCRLC.
“In all, we had 40 attendees for the live webinar, and we expect the recording on YouTube to garner many views in the coming months and years, especially as the traveling exhibit visits members throughout the region.”
Matthews spoke at length about the Otsego County Anti-Slavery Society which, in an 1837 article from the abolitionist newspaper “Friend of Man,” announced to its membership:
