The Underground Railroad in Floyd County, Indiana / Edition 1

by Pamela R. Peters

Overview

Floyd County, Indiana, and its county seat, New Albany, are located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville was a major slave-trade center, and Indiana was a free state. Many slaves fled to Floyd County via the Underground Railroad, but their fight for freedom did not end once they reached Indiana. Sufficient information on slaves coming to and through this important area may be found in court records, newspaper stories, oral history accounts, and other materials that a full and fascinating history is possible, one detailing the struggles that runaway slaves faced in Floyd County, such as local, state, and federal laws working together to keep them from advancing socially, politically, and economically. This work also discusses the attitudes, people, and places that help in explaining the successes and heartaches of escaping slaves in Floyd County. Included are a number of freedom and manumission papers, which provided court certification of the freedom of former slaves.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786410705
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	07/25/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Pamela R. Peters is a former legal secretary. She lives in New Albany, Indiana.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments    
Preface    

1 Conditions During the Antebellum Period    
2 The Anti-Black Bias    
3 Anti-Slavery Sentiment: Political and Social    
4 Anti-Slavery Sentiment: Religious    
5 The Free African AmericanCommunity    
6 Underground Railroad Escape Routes    
7 Specific Underground Railroad Sites    
8 Key Individuals    
9 Final Comments    

Epilogue    
Appendices    
Notes    
Bibliography    
Index    

Editorial Reviews

this work is highly recommended”—Colorado Libraries; “uncovers a complex web of information…brings new understanding to this greatest of all American liberation movements…a detailed bibliography…extensive chapter notes…offers new directions”—Indiana Magazine of History; “sturdy research and writing...stands as a model for others”—The Civil War Courier; “adds significantly to our understanding of an enterprise that became the first sustained human rights movement in history...compelling...a fine job of detailing the little-known individuals, churches and lodges...an exemplary piece of research...tells a story that until now was lost”—Louisville Eccentric Observer; “honest and well-researched”—The Courier-Journal.

From the Publisher

uncovers a complex web of information...brings new understanding to this greatest of all American liberation movements...a detailed bibliography...extensive chapter notes...offers new directions

Indiana Magazine of History

this work is highly recommended

Colorado Libraries

sturdy research and writing...stands as a model for others

The Civil War Courier

Floyd County, Indiana is located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. Before the Civil War, Louisville was a major slave trading center, while Indiana was a free state. In this study based upon court records, newspaper articles, and oral history accounts, independent scholar Peters describes the experience of runaway slaves who came to Floyd County. She contends that "local, state, and federal laws worked against African Americans, both slave and free, to keep them from remaining in Indiana and from making any advancement socially" (from the preface). Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews