Considering Authenticity in Research & Interpretation on the Underground Railroad: Recorded Webinar
Channel: Preservation Maryland
Date: 2020-09-11

Given the illegal nature of its operations, sites of the Underground Railroad across the United State were often hidden and secret. That necessity now presents a challenge to preservationists dedicated to identifying, preserving, and interpreting these important histories where they happened. 

This is a recorded webinar hosted by Preservation Maryland on September 10, 2020 during International Underground Railroad Month. Speakers for this session include Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, author and historian, Heather Ersts, Outreach & Partnership Coordinator for the Maryland Department of Tourism Development, and Dennis A. Doster, Ph.D., Director of the M-NCPPC Black History Program.

The Network to Freedom (NTF) program of the National Park Service promotes innovative scholarship, interpretation, and partnerships for sharing the history and legacy of the Underground Railroad. The Network consists of rigorously researched and documented sites with connections to the Underground Railroad, and programs and facilities with research, educational or interpretive resources related to the Underground Railroad in addition to some financial support. For many places that may be associated with the Underground Railroad, documentation and interpretation can be difficult, particularly when uncovering the complex and difficult stories of the enslaved.

Speakers for the session include Dr. Kate Clifford Larson, author of Bound for the Promised Land, an award-winning biography of Harriet Tubman and who has written more than twenty successful Network to Freedom site nominations. Kate will help illuminate research resources and impart how sites can separate lore from fact from fiction. Heather Ersts of the Maryland Department of Tourism, who is working to strengthen the interpretation offerings at historic destinations that tell the authentic story of African American life, will highlight existing sites in the Network to Freedom that exemplify high-quality and authentic heritage tourism experiences, including new digital experiences. Dennis A. Doster, Ph.D., director of the M-NCPPC Black History Program will also join the webinar to give a broader context to researching and interpreting African American history. Dr. Doster has close to 15 years of experience in the field of Public History. He has worked for the National Archives, the Johns Hopkins University, and the Alexandria Black History Museum. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor in African American Studies, History, and Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, University College.

The goal of this session is to provide an overview of research resources and pitfalls related to uncovering difficult history, especially related to the Underground Railroad. With accurate research and accurate interpretation, Maryland will continue to solidify itself as a destination for history seekers and heritage travelers. Moreover, those persons enslaved in Maryland and those abolitionists along the Underground Railroad deserve a full and true account of their harrowing – and heroic experiences.