On The DL

Quest for Freedom Workshop


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Published: Feb 20, 2008

Sat., Feb. 23, 1-2 p.m., free, Belmont Mansion, 2000 Belmont Mansion Drive, 215-878-8844, belmontmansion.org

Although Philadelphia was a haven for abolitionists and an essential stop for escaped slaves, it's not currently easy to access local antebellum-era information. For those who are interested in the lives of escaped slaves and the Philadelphians who helped them, Belmont Mansion is bringing in Leslie Simon, director of the National Archives in Philadelphia, for a workshop on how to access the archives' overwhelming resources.

One of the collection's historical gems to be discussed in the program is the journal of Judge Richard Peters, which provides information on activities at Belmont Mansion. The estate was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and the newly renovated space is now a recognized "Freedom Station Affiliate" of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. According to Naomi Nelson, a consulting curator working with the staff on abolition programming, there's plenty more history to discover with the proper assistance. "A lot of people are very hesitant to freely go into these large places," she says. "We're hoping the people attending the workshop will learn how the National Archives is there to help assist in their own research."