WILMINGTON - The Wilmington Historical Society invites you to their program "Abolitionism in the Adirondacks: A search for the Truth" to be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 6 in the Wilmington Community Center.
A slideshow presentation will be given by Don Papson, founding President of the North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the importance of freedom to the survival of the human spirit and the Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad. What was the role of North Country residents in the abolition of slavery in America? Who were the main players? What routes opened the door to freedom and how did the Underground Railroad operate in the North Country? Mr. Papson will discuss what research has uncovered.
Don Papson is a retired teacher turned public historian. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in education from Northwestern University.
He combines his training as an educator and his interests in history to compose essays, dramatic readings and lectures. His interests include slavery in New York and its abolition, African Americans in the Battle of Plattsburgh and the American Revolution, Mohawks in the Civil War, and the Underground Railroad. A contributor to two national Underground Railroad encyclopedias, Don is currently co-authoring a book on the Underground Railroad in New York City. Don curated all the displays for the North Star Underground Museum at AuSable Chasm which opened in May 2011. During its first year of operation, the North Star Museum welcomed 4,000 visitors from 23 countries.
The historical society program on July 6 is free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be provided by the Country Bear Bakery in Wilmington.
For further information, contact the Wilmington Historical Society at 518-420-8370.