Visit With Harriet Tubman in Maryland
Harriet Tubman is one of the most recognized names of the Civil War era. Her heroics and actions during this era have become legendary. But who was this woman? Where are the best places to learn more about her? What are the best books to read?
Harriet Tubman, the “Moses” of her people, was born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland. She worked on a plantation with her family until she decided that she had had enough and created a plan to escape. Once she had reached the North she realized that she could not stay while her people were still suffering. Over the years she made thirteen trips into the South to help liberate her family, friends, and others. She worked on the Underground Railroad, was a scout and sometimes nurse for the Union during the Civil War and following the war worked tirelessly to better the lives of blacks in America.
If you make a trip to the state of Maryland you can visit several wonderful museums dedicated to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. These museums are located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and contain not only information about Harriet Tubman but information about slavery, the Underground Railroad and African Americans. (See references below for information)
There have been hundreds of books written about Tubman. For a “first-hand” look at her the book, Harriet Tubman: The Life and The Life Stories by Jean Humez, is a wonderful resource. This book contains transcriptions of original documents as well as a section that describes her life and her influential impact on slavery and the Civil War.
A great book for children is, Who Was Harriet Tubman? by Yona Zeldis McDonough. This book is written as a biography of Tubman and covers her whole life and gives wonderful examples and sources to guide children through the story. The book also includes information on other important figures as well as explanations of some of the more detailed portions of slavery and the Underground Railroad. Sources used for this book include primary and secondary sources.
One last thing to keep in mind…Harriet Tubman was unable to read or write. She had a plan to learn, she just never slowed down long enough to have time to learn! Any original documents or “primary” sources about her are not of her own hand. She needed others to convey her messages to the world and to her supporters. Many of her biographies were written as promotional items to raise money for the many causes she wanted to support.
Her belief in her people and her God kept her safe and kept her dream alive. Her actions remain infamous and should be continued to be honored and shared.
If you are ever in Maryland, take a drive to tour the sites of the Underground Railroad and learn more about Harriet Tubman and others like her!
Bibliography
“Home.” Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. 2021. https://harriettubmanbyway.org/.
“Home.” Harriet Tubman Museum. n.d. https://visitdorchester.org/harriet-tubman-museum-educational-center/.
Humez, Jean. Harriet Tubman: The Life and the Life Stories. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 2003.
McDonough, Yona Zeldis. Who Was Harriet Tubman? New York: Grosset and Dunlap, 2002.
