People often
say that because the Underground Railroad was a secret activity,
you can’t document it. And while it’s true there is a great
deal we will never know about the Underground Railroad, there is
much to be learned from court cases, newspapers, diaries and
letters.
The filmmakers
found clues in exciting and unexpected places -- in the back of an old
picture frame, a missing person’s notice in an 1865 newspaper, church
records and obituaries. They traded information with other
researchers on the internet and found treasures tucked away in special
collections at more than two dozen historical societies.
Separating fact
from fiction can be a daunting task, but it’s worth every minute when
you turn up something new.
