Ohio Historical Society Offers Free Admission To Wilbur H. Siebert Collection During Black History Month

In celebration of the heroes of the Underground Railroad, the Ohio Historical Society will provide free access to the internationally acclaimed Wilbur H. Siebert collection throughout February's Black History Month.

The digital collection, available through Ohio Memory, the statewide digital collections in partnership with the State Library of Ohio, includes historical correspondence of Underground Railroad participants; photographs of agents and former slaves; and maps of Underground Railroad routes. This online collection normally requires a standard OHS subscription fee; however, the Ohio Historical Society is excited to make this collection available for free throughout the month of February, in celebration of Black History Month.

"The stories of the Underground Railroad, as reflected in Siebert collection, are unique to Ohio's history and are an integral part of the national African American experience," said Angela O'Neal, director of collections. "We are pleased to provide free access to this fascinating collection, which connects with this year's National Black History Month theme, At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington."

The items in the collection were compiled by Wilbur H. Siebert, a former history professor at The Ohio State University from 1891-1935. Among the many fascinating items in the collection are transcripts of letters by well-known abolitionists such as Harper's Ferry abolitionist and activist John Brown and Ripley, Ohio's famous Underground Railroad conductor John Rankin; a letter Siebert received from famous former slave Frederick Douglass; and, other documents that show the large role Ohioans played in the abolitionist movement. The Siebert collection is available at http://www.ohiomemory.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/siebert.