Highlighting the history of New Philadelphia
Landmarks Illinois Regional Advocacy Manager Quinn Adamowski attended the Inaugural Freedom Corridor Conference at Illinois College in Jacksonville on February 2-3. This inaugural conference is the result of years of advocacy efforts to highlight the importance of New Philadelphia, specifically the story of Frank McWorter who founded the Illinois town and who bought his freedom and worked to secure his family's freedom from slavery.
The Freedom Corridor tells the story of those who sacrificed and fought for freedom in Springfield, Jacksonville, Pittsfield, New Philadelphia, Barry and Quincy, Illinois, and Hannibal, Missouri. It also aims to shed light on the continuing struggles to end racism and all forms of oppression.
Above, Adamowski is pictured with Gerald McWorter, a Professor at U of I, founder of the Freedom Corridor and a descendant of Free Frank McWorter.
Want to learn more about New Philadelphia and Frank McWorter?
Join us on March 7 for our next Preservation Snapshots Lecture: The Underground Railroad and Freedom Seeking in the 19th Century, the Law Versus Morality. Gerald McWorter will lead this virtual presentation. Free for Landmarks Illinois members!
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