2 10 134 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/882c01accc8d120bd0af1594c45d0458.jpg b54e89c991485387804707ba3f1a0268 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/ce65a8c6f0a817b8b2b3739b50c917ca.jpg f7c5935049d866435a29acebf4b9bf9b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/3546210485d2739957b43a1df2eb3824.jpg d49eef35f9a955fdb7b96eaa0e3a3ea2 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/d5e84b685a1e6b45363923aec1e8289e.jpg 21c961271d20fdbe807b37240462fb73 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1f6da1b955dd143122082594acf6f612.jpg c616a3649e9d1d1a77e80dfb3ddf5a2b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/56cf617b7737ab736b69513396771ea0.jpg c8a8c78b44ddd747320da9d25ce72eff https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/34a5b02d3bc3a13da3be09e086ffcb1c.jpg 7b773a5894847cf8bde731261972d971 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/155c1422b4b33bdf21b97c216438c206.jpg 62212857abf0af743f214ef9023f6e11 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/af7687038cfe317e988cebd9a70d74fe.jpg 7c185137e1e179cb66e7cef2b67a4000 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/b410f1f955170fc6324e536234898a34.jpg d6766343c25f47786746ee01fdd1b370 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/f07754b067e85b3137864aa1d7d1fff1.jpg 76d4b49edcd691a211d1317ad55203ac Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 156 x 96 x 132 in. (396.24 x 243.84 x 335.28 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial (New York, New York) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States Freedom New York (State)--New York Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The large-than-life bronze sculpture of Harriet Tubman stands on a rough-cut granite base. The monument is two-toned: a green-blue patina for Tubman's clothing and a black patina for her skin. She wears a buttoned, long-sleeved shirt and a long skirt, the surface of which is adorned with small raised faces, shackles, medicine bundles, and other symbolic elements. Tubman is shown in motion, striding forward with one hand clasping the strap of her shoulder bag. From the side, she is shown pulling away from the gnarled, root-like branches that appear to symbolize her breaking free from bondage. Her facial expression is calm and resolute. Bronze tiles adorn the upper section of the base and show events from Tubman’s life along with traditional quilt patterns. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Saar, Alison, 1956- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 13, 2008 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Quennell Rothschild & Partners, LLP (landscape architects), New York, New York; URS Corporation (engineering), New York, New York; City of New York; Manhattan Borough President’s Office; NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program; NYC Department of Parks and Recreation; NYC Department of Design and Construction; and NYC Department of Transportation Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program, 31 Chambers Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York, 10007, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Harriet Tubman Plaza, St. Nicholas Avenue, West 122nd Street, and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York City, New York, 07062, United States Alternative Title An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific. Harriet Tubman Memorial; Harriet Tubman Triangle Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on bronze plaque: Harriet Tubman Memorial. Alison Saar. Swing Low, 2007 Plaza Design in Collaboration with Quennell Rothschild & Partners, LLP Commissioned by the City of New York Manhattan Borough President’s Office NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Percent for Art Program NYC Department of Parks and Recreation NYC Department of Transportation NYC Department of Design and Construction Inscription on exterior granite wall: “What a Beautiful Morning It Will Be! O Let My People Go.” Informational plaque: Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial Harriet Tubman Triangle This larger-than-life bronze sculpture depicts abolitionist organizer and Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913), and stands at the crossroads of St. Nicholas Avenue, West 122nd Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem. Douglass once said of Tubman that except for John Brown, he knew of "no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people." Born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, Tubman escaped in 1849 via the Underground Railroad, the network of places and people dedicated to helping slaves find their way to freedom in non-slaveholding communities. Settling first in Philadelphia, then Canada, Tubman spent ten years returning to Maryland at great personal risk, to guide scores of friends and family members to freedom. Determined to end slavery, she later served the Union Army as a scout, spy and nurse in the Civil War. Settling in Auburn, New York after the war, she continued campaigning for equal rights for women and African-Americans. Her humanitarian work, including caring for the sick, homeless and disabled of all races, resulted in the establishment of the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged in that community. She died in 1913 and was buried in Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn with semi-military honors. The memorial, commissioned through the Department of Cultural Affairs' Percent for Art program, was created by African-American sculptor Alison Saar. The artist has depicted Tubman "not as the conductor of the Underground Railroad but as the train itself, an unstoppable locomotive," the roots of slavery pulled up in her wake. Saar designed stylized portraits of "anonymous passengers" of the Underground Railroad in Tubman's skirt, some of which were inspired by West African "passport masks." Around the granite base of the monument are bronze tiles alternately depicting events in Tubman's life and traditional quilting patterns. The multi-agency project included landscaping the formerly barren traffic triangle. Designed by Quennell Rothschild and constructed by URS, the renovated triangle features paving blocks and roughly hewn granite to create a natural setting. Plantings native to both New York and Tubman's home state of Maryland represent the woods and terrain traveled by Tubman and her Underground Railroad passengers, providing a contemplative space in which to consider Tubman's legacy. City of New York Parks & Recreation www.nyc.gov/parks October 2013 Extent The size or duration of the resource. 156 x 96 x 132 in. (396.24 x 243.84 x 335.28 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Chinese granite Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Press Release. “Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial Sculpture is Dedicated in Harlem.” NYC Parks. November 13, 2008. Accessed March 18, 2018. https://www.nycgovparks.org/news/press-releases?id=20772%20. Almino, Elisa Wouk. "Meet LA's Art Community: Alison Saar on her Harriet Tubman Monument and Finding Inspiration." Hyperallergic, November 5, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2026. https://hyperallergic.com/meet-las-art-community-alison-saar-on-her-harriet-tubman-monument-and-finding-inspiration/. NYC Cultural Affairs-Percent for Art. “Alison Saar.” Accessed January 30, 2026. https://www.nyc.gov/site/dclapercentforart/projects/projects-detail.page?recordID=207. Herbert, Amelia Simone. "Swing Low: A Visual Metaphor for Abolition Now." CRWNMAG, June 2020. Accessed January 30, 2026. https://www.crwnmag.com/blog/2020/6/swing-low-a-visual-metaphor-for-abolition-now. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Relation A related resource “It’s My Park: Harriet Tubman Memorial,” NYC Parks, February 6, 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYxY4hEECQY. References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Has Version A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource. Maquette, New York Historical, 2009. https://emuseum.nyhistory.org/objects/64912/maquette-for-swing-low-harriet-tubman-memorial. Maquette, National Museum of American American History and Culture, 2011. https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2011.63. bronze figurative granite manacles portrait quilt squares trees https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/919d65fce9e8f33328adc49703e2bec2.jpg cbab4a0d282379255e0a6418607ceb9a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 22 x 24 in. (55.88 x 60.96 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial (reduced version) (Claremont, California) Subject The topic of the resource <subject topic="" br=""></subject>Antislavery movements--United States California--Claremont Freedom Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Saar, Alison, 1956- Description An account of the resource The sculptor Alison Saar created this smaller version of Harriet Tubman based on the full-scale Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial in New York City. Tubman is shown in motion, striding forward with one hand clasping the strap of her shoulder bag. From the side, she is shown pulling away from the gnarled, root-like branches that appear to symbolize her breaking free from bondage. Her facial expression is calm and resolute. She wears a buttoned, long-sleeved shirt and a long skirt, the surface of which is adorned with small raised faces, manacles, and other symbolic elements. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.scrippscollege.edu/news/releases/scripps-college-to-dedicate-sculpture-of-harriet-tubman-for-new-sculpture-garden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scripps College</a> Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 10, 2010 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Installation made possible with gifts from Jacqueline Avant, Carol Vernon, and Robert Turbin Extent The size or duration of the resource. 22 x 24 in. (55.88 x 60.96 cm) Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Scripps College, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, California, 91711, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Bixby Court, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery, 251 E 11 Street, Claremont, California, 91711, United States Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Stone Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. News Releases. "Scripps College Dedicates Sculpture of Harriet Tubman for New Sculpture Garden." News. Scripps College. Accessed April 1, 2018. http://www.scrippscollege.edu/news/releases/scripps-college-to-dedicate-sculpture-of-harriet-tubman-for-new-sculpture-garden. Video. "Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Sculpture Dedication." Scripps College. Accessed April 1, 2018. <http://rcwg.scrippscollege.edu/blog/2010/03/10/swing-low-harriet-tubman-sculpture-dedication/. "Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial: Installed in College's New Sculpture Garden." Scripps Magazine, Spring 2010. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://issuu.com/scrippscollege/docs/2010-spring1. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Has Version A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource. <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial, New York City, New York</a> bronze figurative manacles portrait trees https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/eae68eafc47aa1634ff49681b4b234ee.jpg 160a487be55b26d28bf4b47f50dd4330 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Dimensions variable Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Araminta With Rifle and Veve (ephemeral) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States Ephermeral art New Jersey--Hamilton Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource A monumental outdoor figure of Harriet Tubman depicts her wearing a collared, long dress, holding a richly decorated rifle in her right hand—with its butt adored with flowers—and a colorfully beaded ceremonial staff called veve in her left. The statue is made of milled foam and coated with a bronze-colored patina. Tubman stands on a series of steps draped with numerous colorful quilts. The sculpture was installed at the Grounds for Sculpture from October 20, 2017-April 1, 2018. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Scott, Joyce J., 1948- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/arts/design/joyce-j-scott-grounds-for-sculpture-harriet-tubman.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bryan Anselm</a> for the New York Times Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 20, 2017-April 1, 2018 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, New Jersey, 08619, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, New Jersey, 08619, United States Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Milled foam; Found objects; Blown glass; Mixed media appliqués; Beads Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Princethal, Nancy. "Inspired by Harriet Tubman: An Artist Takes Glass to Extremes." New York Times, January 4, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/arts/design/joyce-j-scott-grounds-for-sculpture-harriet-tubman.html Dube, Ilene. "I Was an Artist in Vitro": Joyce J. Scott and Her Darkly Beautiful Art. Hyperallergic, January 30, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://hyperallergic.com/423894/i-was-an-artist-in-vitro-joyce-j-scott-and-her-darkly-beautiful-art/. Sims, Lowery Stokes and Patterson Sims. Joyce J. Scott: Harriet Tubman and Other Truths. Exh. cat. Hamilton, NJ: Grounds for Sculpture, 2018. Souza, Gabriella. "Towering Figure: After Winning a McArthur Fellowship, Joyce J. Scott Charts New Artistic Territory." Baltimore Magazine, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/towering-figure-macarthur-fellowship-winner-joyce-j-scott-charts-new-artistic-territory/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Extent The size or duration of the resource. Dimensions variable References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grounds for Sculpture; Lowery Stokes Sims; Patterson Sims; Seph Rodney; Robbye D. and Kevin Apperson; Jacqueline and Rene Copeland; Mike De Paola; Gordon and Lulie Gund; Greg Kucera and Larry Yocum; Barbara Lawrence and Allen Laskin; Martha Macks-Kahn; Henry Thaggert; Alan White; Clifford Ward (resident artist Grounds for Sculpture); Jeff Capes (contractor); Jason Wright; The Seward Johnson Atelier (Hamilton, NJ); John Lash and the Digital Atelier (Mercerville, NJ); and Timothy McFadden and McFadden Art Glass (Baltimore, MD) beads figurative found objects quilt squares https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/19c814fb78284a827ddf5de2c1d1b5fb.jpg dafe75eab288e1b9572d94c662430506 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 180 in. (457.2 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Graffiti Harriet (ephemeral) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Scott, Joyce J., 1948- Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States Ephemeral art New Jersey--Hamilton Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource A monumental sculpture of Harriet Tubman made of soil, clay, and straw, is scrawled with the words from Frederick Douglass. The sculpture was made from perishable materials, meant to dissolve over the winter. The artist Joyce Scott designed the sculpture so that only the beaded patchwork and gun would remain after the winter weather. The sculpture was installed at the Grounds for Sculpture from October 20, 2017-April 1, 2018. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph: <a href="https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/towering-figure-macarthur-fellowship-winner-joyce-j-scott-charts-new-artistic-territory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Morgan</a> for Baltimore Magazine Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 20, 2017 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, New Jersey, 08619, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Grounds for Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton, New Jersey, 08619, United States Extent The size or duration of the resource. 180 in. (457.2 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Soil; Clay; Straw; Resin gun with beads; Found objects Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Princethal, Nancy. "Inspired by Harriet Tubman: An Artist Takes Glass to Extremes." New York Times, January 4, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/04/arts/design/joyce-j-scott-grounds-for-sculpture-harriet-tubman.html. Dube, Ilene. "I Was an Artist in Vitro": Joyce J. Scott and Her Darkly Beautiful Art. Hyperallergic, January 30, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://hyperallergic.com/423894/i-was-an-artist-in-vitro-joyce-j-scott-and-her-darkly-beautiful-art/. Sims, Lowery Stokes and Patterson Sims. Joyce J. Scott: Harriet Tubman and Other Truths. Exh. cat. Hamilton, NJ: Grounds for Sculpture, 2018. Souza, Gabriella. "Towering Figure: After Winning a McArthur Fellowship, Joyce J. Scott Charts New Artistic Territory." Baltimore Magazine, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2018. https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/artsentertainment/towering-figure-macarthur-fellowship-winner-joyce-j-scott-charts-new-artistic-territory/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Relation A related resource <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/14" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Araminta With Rifle and Veve, Grounds for Sculpture</a> References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Grounds for Sculpture; Lowery Stokes Sims; Patterson Sims; Seph Rodney; Robbye D. and Kevin Apperson; Jacqueline and Rene Copeland; Mike De Paola; Gordon and Lulie Gund; Greg Kucera and Larry Yocum; Barbara Lawrence and Allen Laskin; Martha Macks-Kahn; Henry Thaggert; Alan White; Clifford Ward (resident artist Grounds for Sculpture); Jeff Capes (contractor); Jason Wright; The Seward Johnson Atelier (Hamilton, NJ); John Lash and the Digital Atelier (Mercerville, NJ); and Tim McFadden and McFadden Art Glass (Baltimore, MD) beads figurative found objects https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/56e5254fa8996cb53478d3d1fba9abb5.jpg ae95b7e112502e2591b30dbe27643406 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/dec79cb901670083216ccd264a3014d1.jpg ec74fb87cb397aade350b7ebe0aa8249 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/c246d2f1c3bc80c8fadcb2fb86548099.jpg fb44018e5098a74e45f295c47a0fb7dc https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1ef7619aad0cc93ff94755289be82e11.jpg 3d941c1900d6b306143a74d37ec813c9 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/41ab9e139d4cc9c02e48e74b89a7c180.jpg 9ba6328e83fd985908786565754c15b6 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/57073ca3c32643c51dec4581a5e2415c.jpg e275ea1376111a7d7dedeb56c39495cb Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Underground Railroad Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The memorial and monuments in this collection are dedicated to the Underground Railroad, an organized network of routes and safe houses that assisted freedom seekers [enslaved people] on their journeys northward. The Underground Railroad was part of the larger movement for the abolition of slavery in the United States. The movement to abolish slavery was a complicated political movement that, at its core, was driven by the resistance and activism of enslaved Black people and freedmen and women abolitionists. Historian Manisha Sinha explores the history of American abolition, including the Underground Railroad in The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition (2016).  Although Harriet Tubman is the most famous conductor in the Underground Railroad, she is not the subject of the memorials featured in this collection (see the collection on this site, <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/collections/show/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Abolitionists</a>, to view works specifically dedicated to her life and work). Rather the monuments and memorials featured here, such as Ed Dwight's <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1170" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gateway to Freedom: International Memorial to the Underground Railroad</a>, highlight other prominent conductors, as well as celebrate the fortitude and bravery of the freedom seekers as they made the perilous journey north. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Freedom Crossing Monument (Lewiston, New York) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Geissler, Susan, 1953- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource October 14, 2009 Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States Freedom Fugitive slaves--United States  New York (State)--Lewiston Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tryon, Josiah, 1798-1886 Clark, Margaret Goff, 1913-2003 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The monument consists of five bronze sculptures. The subjects are a family of freedom seekers including a father, mother and baby; Lewiston's Underground Railroad Station Master, Josiah Tryon; and the fictional heroine, Laura Eastman, from the Freedom Crossing book. A rowboat is at the center of the composition with the mother seated in the boat as Tryon hands her the baby. Two figures stand on rock meant to suggest the banks of the lower Niagara River. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Town of Lewiston Council; Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees; The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation; KeyBank Foundation; Niagara River Greenway Commission; New York State Power Authority; Historical Association of Lewiston, Inc. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Historical Association of Lewiston, Inc., 469 Plain Street, Lewiston, New York, 14092 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Bronze plaque on boulder at front of memorial: A tribute to the enslaved who sought a new life of freedom in Canada and to the local volunteers who helped them on their journey to cross the Niagara River. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of trails and safe homes that enslaved Africian-Americans from the southern United States used to escape to Canada in the 1800's. The British Empire, including Canada, abolished slavery in 1834. Lewiston was one of the final stops on the Underground Railroad and despite breaking the law, many local residents volunteered to help the escapees reach freedom in Canada. This monument depicts the moment in time when fugitive slaves saw Canada for the first time after traveling hundreds of treacherous miles, avoiding slave catchers who were paid to capture and return them to the south. Handing the baby to the fugitive mother is Josiah Tryon (1798-1886) Lewiston's volunteer "Station Master" for the Underground Railroad. A man of simple means, Tyron was quiet, humble and religious. By secretly escorting escaping slaves to freedom in his row boat under the cover of darkness, he gave them hope and became a champion of justice and equality. He truly had a rainbow heart, embracing people of all colors and creeds. With her outstretched arm pointing to Canada, Laura Eastman is the iconic heroine in the historical fiction book, Freedom Crossing, which is read by thousands of elementary students throughout the United States every year. Laura has become a symbol of the triumph of the human spirit over oppression. (Copyright 1986 by Margaret Goff Clark, by permission of Scholastic, Inc.) Historical Association of Lewiston, Inc. Dedicated October 14, 2009 Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Stone Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Ater, Renée. "NY State Network to Freedom: Freedom Crossing Monument, Lewiston." Renée Ater, On Monuments Blog. https://www.reneeater.com/on-monuments-blog/2019/10/31/ny-state-network-to-freedom-freedoms-crossing-monument-lewiston. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Lewiston Landing Park, North Water Street, Lewiston, New York, 14092, United States boat bronze figurative https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/4e92b4bfe7fb8dbef9f614c3644d84cd.jpg 6eb3a0c02d87f854dc903aee0635774e https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/e263c98964623f483e550eb99f9211bc.jpg 4e452d25ec7ce3c98fab7c9031f3f1f0 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/09995894c11789a25f21e88695433bbd.jpg b61cf3991d6f4e373c1e7d272595348b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/b6a24f64340fc3428f55ffb4886e9eeb.jpg dc7df76bd8893cefb472d2189d94163b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/f3c5194c6d9dc68a1bed03d1d2667aaf.jpg 8d79ff1a72ac92845a35454a53b59e52 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/7ac13e32583245b1455a8bd09fb97203.jpg 0f440ee72f18e4f32950445400426d1b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Unknown Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Harriet Tubman (St. Catharines, Ontario) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rekrut, Frank, 1959- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource September 13, 2010 Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on front of black marble plinth: "After the passing of the USA 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, she said. 'I wouldn't trust Uncle Sam with my people no longer. I brought them all clear off to Canada.'" Inscription on back of black marble plinth: Sculptor Frank Rekrut 2010 Ontario Heritage Foundation historic marker: Harriet Ross Tubman c. 1820-1913 A legendary conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman became known as the "Moses" of her people. Tubman was born into slavery on a Maryland plantation and suffered brutal treatment from numerous owners before escaping in 1849. Over the next decade she returned to the American South many times and led hundreds of freedom seekers north. When the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed slave owners  to recapture runaways in the northern free states. Tubman extended her operations across the Canadian border. For eight years she lived in St. Catharines, and at some point rented a house in this neighborhood. With the outbreak of the Civil War, she return to the U. S. to serve the Union Army. Ontario Heritage Foundation, Ministry of Culture and Communications [Reverse in French] Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--Canada Freedom Ontario--St. Catharines Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad--Canada Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The half-bust portrait of Harriet Tubman, made from concrete, rests on a rectangular plinth made of polished black marble bearing her name and an inscription. Tubman is depicted wearing her signature headscarf, with a wrap covering her shoulders. The portrait is situated in a meditation garden next to British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada-Salem Chapel, St. Catharines, Ontario. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada-Salem Chapel, 92 Geneva St, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 4N2, Canada Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Concrete; Black marble Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Spaan, Natalie. "Harriet Tubman Monument Unveiled." The Brock Press, September 21, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2020. http://www.brockpress.com/2010/09/harriet-tubman-monument-unveiled. Zettle, Mike. "Tubman Statue to Grace BME Church." The Standard (St. Catharines), February 19, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2020. https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/3305714-tubman-sculpture-to-grace-bme-church-garden/. "Legacy of Freedom Honored." The Standard (St. Catharines), September 14, 2020. Accessed May 26, 2020. https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/community-story/3311877-legacy-of-freedom-honoured/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Frank Rekrut (donation); St. Catharines Green Committee ; St. Catharines Horticultural Society, Eco Landscape Design; and Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada. Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada-Salem Chapel, 92 Geneva St, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 4N2, Canada Extent The size or duration of the resource. Unknown black granite concrete figurative portrait https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/5a8420a7d73147a2b16bf3937c713b49.jpg f7ad4e9accb016470772126375ab46c0 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/0496d5f791423d263237b9e1bec51dfd.jpg 29fda6aebdd4875e943d5830aa73f847 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8835b7b0ce80dbd9ec293db41a2ef8ad.jpg 10cef62dca9a61baf2db1ba0024d2d3a https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/818576deb445ab239001699f57604c86.jpg 002013a4e7624952792e62f8861bce59 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8553829aae56c18e5fe9547cefe7d266.jpg e639c788a7cd323413189b9113ef80ea Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Unknown Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rekrut, Frank, 1959 Title A name given to the resource Harriet Tubman (St. Catharines, Ontario) Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Harriet Tubman Public School, 84 Henry Street, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 5V4, Canada Description An account of the resource The bronze portrait sculpture of Harriet Tubman rests on a large rectangular plinth made of brick and stone. Tubman, wearing her signature headscarf, is depicted seated on a wooden chair, holding a closed book in her hands as she gazes into the distance. She wears a scarf around her neck, long-sleeved shirt button-down shirt, a shawl, and a flowing skirt. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource District School Board of Niagara, St. Catharines, Ontario; and Ciglia & Carrai Foundry, Florence, Italy. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource District School Board of Niagara, 191 Carlton St, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7P4, Canada Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Forsyth, Paul. "New Statue of Harriet Tubman Unveiled at School Named in Her Honour." NiagaraThisWeek.com. Accessed September 18, 2018. https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/6270533-new-statue-of-harriet-tubman-unveiled-at-school-named-in-her-honour/. "Tubman Statue Unveiled at School." The Standard (St. Catharines), February 9, 2016. Accessed May 26, 2020. https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8185751-tubman-statue-unveiled-at-school/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 9, 2016 Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Abolitionists--United States Antislavery movements--Canada Freedom Ontario--St. Catharines Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Extent The size or duration of the resource. Unknown book bronze figurative portrait https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/4c818df56de3958c2efb58f832ae3263.jpg 46043fc5d103f7d890448b2e8c3f109e https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/3efbf2c69ed97c51d7f4d9c31ecd46c3.jpg dfeb425e51e0461dce01d729b40d226b https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2aa8d9472f27aa6945c4183770e01691.jpg ba6f54ff17978c4f16a5d191a2b3dfcd https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2cb8bf349ef011caea4df18a7071be92.jpg 9005930f8ae9e820db05bdf7f64810a4 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/7ce09bc59a267e2c045e4bf1aeb4d82c.jpg a91b5002a7e57350ac1e0c9d55e4eb32 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/52b734ac31b629802f292c586a2b6274.jpg cadc084d82d82906abc76e292420af2f https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/5d168a4b3cf868f2906e26939011b273.jpg 93d941224cb2e529215bf99e47f9066a https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/39b38c3dbac4f38075c322aeeafea579.jpg b38b4dd0103ef18733246c770f2c631a https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/53f0f360b62bffdcc2b58dce59380ea4.jpg 9bf986aced81d6ea48634c671cac3b1a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image Statue: 90 in. (228.6 cm) Base: 36 in. (91.44 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Frederick Douglass Monument (College Park, Maryland) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Edwards, Andrew, 1965- Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource November 18, 2015 Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States Freedom Maryland--College Park Public art Public sculpture Slavery--Maryland Subject (Name) Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Located on the large brick plaza outside Hornbake Library at the University of Maryalnd, the full-size sculpture of Frederick Douglass portrays him in the middle of a speech with his mouth open and his brown deeply furrowed. His right arm is outstretched, and he grasps a copy of his autobiography in his left hand. His coat/cape billows out behind him in a swath of bronze, suggesting vigorous action as he steps foward. Douglass's name is inscribed on the black granite base. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ira Berlin and the North Stars; Facilities Management-UMD; Private donors; UMD Foundation; Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture; Maryland Historical Trust Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Frederick Douglass Square, University of Maryland, 4130 Campus Drive, College Park, Maryland, 20742, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Quotations on plaza bricks: "I was born in Tuckahoe, near Hillsborough, and about twelve miles from Easton, in Talbot County, Maryland." "I am a Marylander, and love Maryland and her people." "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." "The blow we strike is not merely to free a country or continent--but the whole world from Slavery--for when Slavery falls here it will fall everywhere." "Until it shall be safe to leave the lamb in the hold of the lion, the laborer in power of the capitalist, the poor in the hands of the rich, it will not be safe to leave a newly emancipated people completely in the power of their former masters, especially when such masters have not ceased to be such from enlightened moral convictions but by irresistible force." "Education means . . . emancipation." "This right of speech is very dear to the hearts of intelligent lovers of liberty." "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." "All that distinguishes man as an intelligent and accountable being, is equally true of woman . . . there can be no reason in the world for denying a woman the exercise of the elective franchise or a hand in the making and administering the laws of the land." "In a composite nation like ours, as before the law, there should be no rich, no poor, no high, no low, no white, no black, but common country, common citizenship, equal rights, and a common destiny." Inscription on black granite base: Frederick Douglass 1818-1895 Abolitionist, Suffragist, Labor Leader Stateman, Diplomat, Founding Father of the Second American Republic Orator, Scholar, Journalist Quotations on Corten steel panels: "The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but [it] must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will." "No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck." "He who does not love Justice and Liberty for all, does not love Justice and Liberty." "Right is of no sex--Truth is of no color." Inscription on bronze plaque: The University of Maryland is grateful to the many individuals and organizations, particularly the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture as well as the Maryland Historic Trust, part of the Maryland Department of Planning, who generously supported the creation of Frederick Douglass Square. Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Black granite; Brick; Corten steel Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Arnett, Autumn A. “At UMD, New Frederick Douglass Square Illustrates State’s Racial Duality." Diverse Issues in Higher Education, November 24, 2015. Accessed November 23, 2018. https://diverseeducation.com/article/79147/. Frederick Douglass Remembered. Ireland's Great Hunger Institute, Quinnipiac University. Accessed November 26, 2018. https://www.qu.edu/academics/centers-and-institutes/irelands-great-hunger-institute/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater Alternative Title An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific. Frederick Douglass Ireland Monument Extent The size or duration of the resource. Statue: 90 in. (228.6 cm) Base: 36 in. (91.44 cm) Has Version A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource. Frederick Douglass Monument, Quinnipiac University School of Law, 2018 black granite bronze Corten steel figurative inscription portrait https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8152c225003865a3b91605cedcc012de.jpg a5ea156d3e91bdb21ccb88c3e2e58e2b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Black Abolitionists: Tubman, Douglass, Truth Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Grace Yasumura Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource The monuments and memorials in this collection commemorate the extraordinary achievements of three U.S. Black abolitionist and freedom seekers: Harriet Tubman, née Araminta Ross, (c. 1822-1913); Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895); and Sojourner Truth (1797-1883). Born into slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. During the next ten years, she made approximately thirteen trips into Maryland to rescue other enslaved family members and friends. She provided instructions for escape to about 70 more enslaved people who were able to self-emancipate. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. As one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad, the monuments in this section often depict Tubman leading groups of freedom seekers on their journey northwards to freedom, such as Mario Chiodo’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unwavering Courage in the Pursuit of Freedom</a>. In other works, such as Alison Saar’s <a href="https://www.harriettubmanmonuments.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Swing Low</a>, Tubman is depicted alone, facing southward as she makes the perilous journey back to Maryland to free more enslaved people. One of the most brilliant orators of his generation, Frederick Douglass worked ceaselessly for the cause of abolition. Among his many achievements, Douglass became one of the early and important critical theorists of photography, a medium invented in 1839. In a series of lectures delivered between 1861-1865, Douglass argued that photography had the power to shape people’s understandings of race and as such could be deployed to resist distorted representations of African Americans. Douglass, who was exceptionally aware of the power of his own image, sat for a number of portraits over several decades, circulating his image widely. His photographic portraits serve as the basis for a number of the works in this collection, including Ivan Schwartz’s <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frederick Douglass</a>, created for the New York Historical Society. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. She emancipated herself, escaping to freedom in 1826. During her 30-year career, she became a formidable force in several 19th-century reform movements, linking the struggles for Black freedom with women’s suffrage. Truth capitalized on both the affecting power of photography and its reproducibility to support her activism. She created carte-de-visite portraits of herself, which she copyrighted, adding the caption “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance. Sojourner Truth.” As Darcy Grimaldo Grigsby explores in her book Enduring Truths: Sojourner’s Shadows and Substance (2015), Truth “made her photographic portrait worth money in order to end slavery—and also became the strategic author of her public self.” Commemorative works such as the <a href="https://www.slaverymonuments.org/files/original/1b9f9d28475430765059a059a43787b2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sojourner Truth Memorial</a> in Florence, Massachusetts, are based on the photographic portrait that Truth so carefully created and circulated. Updated January 26, 2026 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Plaque Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Harriet Tubman Memorial Plaque (Auburn, New York) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Citizens of Auburn Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) Antislavery movements--United States New York--Auburn Public art Public sculpture Underground Railroad Subject (Name) Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913 Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource The bronze plaque honoring Harriet Tubman has a dark patina and a rectangular body topped with a rounded arch. At the top, Tubman’s portrait—based on an 1890s photograph—is rendered in bas-relief and surrounded by a laurel motif. Her expression is calm and resolute. Beneath the portrait is an inscription detailing Tubman’s achievements, with floral rosettes adorning the corners of the plaque. The bronze plaque is placed on the outside wall of the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn, New York. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photograph by Renée Ater Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 13, 1914 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Citizens of Auburn Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Cayuga County Courthouse, 152 Genesee Street, Auburn, New York, 13021, United States Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Cayuga County Courthouse, 152 Genesee Street, Auburn, New York, 13021, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on bronze plaque: In Memory of Harriet Tubman. Born a slave in Maryland about 1821. Died in Auburn, N.Y. March 10th, 1913. Called the "Moses" of her people, during the Civil War, with rare courage, she led over three hundred negroes up from slavery to freedom, and rendered invaluable service as a nurse and spy. With implicit trust in God she braved every danger and overcame every obstacle, withal she possessed extraordinary foresight and judgment so that she truthfully said--"On my Underground Railroad I nebber run my train off de track and I nebber los' a passenger."--This tablet is erected by the Citizens of Auburn, 1914. References A related resource that is referenced, cited, or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. Monument and Myth: Commemorating Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. "National Flag to Be Displayed: Day of Unveiling of Harriet Tubman Memorial to be Observed at Suggestion of Mayor. Exercises in Auditorium." The Advertiser Journal, Thursday, June 11, 1914. New York Historic Newspapers. Accessed January 31, 2026. https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/. "High Tribute Paid to Harriet Tubman As Memorial Tablet is Unveiled in Her Honor." The Advertiser Journal, Saturday, June 13, 1914. New York Historic Newspapers. Accessed January 31, 2026. https://www.nyshistoricnewspapers.org/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater bas-relief bronze inscription portrait https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/6b093ae1fd52b7a92b50eb6b936d2f1d.jpg a6e5b4ec536e158c0bf5f948095d34eb https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/00a6f3efc60a043d7f6f9bdf2277315f.jpg ba153d0b21b8e5930add22fc3e37ea79 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/dd22b8e4720dcd4a87c819191a193066.jpg e00a2ebd83c43ce55dee6c7393a8bb90 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/56f4c3f6db9339902f999ab81b97cb82.jpg 78f3d7d6a16d1280758d4468fef94266 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/4fd57e013d5c1a19d48595ffddac2370.jpg 298111d7d9d2cd6ad6b666b739fa3384 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/8093fac7cf7bee762792207ec130ae36.jpg 3c2312a804ceb1d2e4ab6167f7e4ed73 https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/2dd27dd351d4ace80f6008a9fbf29776.jpg ce1e15347ccc816bfd8b6229cdc345fc https://slaverymonuments.org/files/original/af4a4fbed68f01d081b7164765e21c6f.jpg 7d234d45488ebb1f0f8552cfb013fad9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource United States Colored Troops (USCT) Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Renée Ater Description An account of the resource Included in this thematic collection are seventeen memorials that honor the vital contributions of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) to the Union victory during the American Civil War. The first all-Black units formed unofficially in Louisiana (Louisiana Native Guard, 1862); South Carolina (First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 1862-63); and Kansas (First Kansas Colored Infantry, 1862-63). The first official authorization to employ African Americans in federal service was the Second Confiscation and Militia Act of July 17, 1862. The Confiscation Act allowed Union officers to free enslaved men and put them to work as army laborers. However, Abraham Lincoln did not fully authorize the use of Black men in combat until the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Beginning in late January 1863, Governor John A. Andrews of Massachusetts raised the first regiment of Black soldiers in the North, the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry. The abolitionist Frederick Douglass helped recruit men for the Massachusetts 54th, famously issuing a call to free African American men to join the Union Army. In a speech, “Men of Color, To Arms!”, delivered in Rochester, New York on March 2, 1863, Douglass urged his fellow free men of color to fight for the end of slavery and for their freedom: "By every consideration which binds you to your enslaved fellow-countrymen, and the peace and welfare of your country; by every aspiration which you cherish for the freedom and equality of yourselves and your children; by all the ties of blood and identity which make us one with the brave black men now fighting our battles in Louisiana and in South Carolina, I urge you to fly to arms, and smite with death the power that would bury the government and your liberty in the same hopeless grave." On May 22, 1863, the U.S. War Department issued General Order No. 143, authorizing the creation of the Bureau of Colored Troops. By the end of the Civil War, over 200,000 men, including white officers, served in 175 regiments of the USCT, which made up ten percent of the Union army. The compiled military records of the men who served in the USCT can be found in the National Archives and Records Administration. Updated January 26, 2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Written by Renée Ater Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Sculpture Physical Dimensions The actual physical size of the original image 108 in. (274.32 cm) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource “Spirit of Freedom”: African American Civil War Memorial (Washington, DC) Subject The topic of the resource Subject (Topic) African Americans--History Public art Public sculpture United States Colored Troops Washington (D.C.) Subject (Object Type) Commemorative sculpture Description An account of the resource Located in Washington, DC, the semicircular bronze statue by Ed Hamilton depicts three African American infantrymen and one sailor. The soldiers grasp the barrels of their rifled muskets, while the sailor holds a ship’s wheel. The soldiers wear the standard Union army uniform—a forage cap, a light coat, and trousers—while the sailor wears a federal Navy flat hat, a wool frock, and trousers.  Overlooking the group is a personification of the "Spirit of Freedom,” rendered as a shrouded, angelic figure whose face tilts upward, eyes closed, and whose crossed hand rest on the chest. On the back of the monument in bas-relief, an African American soldier is joined by six members of his multigenerational family—his wife, three children, and his parents—who gather around him as he prepares to go off to war. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hamilton, Ed, 1947- Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Photographs by Renée Ater Wide-angle photograph: National Gallery of Art Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 18, 1998 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource The African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation; National Park Service Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20240, United States Relation A related resource African American Civil War Memorial Museum, Washington, DC Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource JPEG Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Visual Arts-Sculpture Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 1925 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States Has Part A related resource that is included either physically or logically in the described resource. Inscription on granite base:  Civil War to Civil Rights and Beyond. This Memorial is dedicated to those who served in African American units of the Union Army in the Civil War. The 209,145 names inscribed on these walls commemorate those fighters of freedom. Extent The size or duration of the resource. 108 in. (274.32 cm) Medium The material or physical carrier of the resource. Bronze; Pink granite; Stainless steel Bibliographic Citation A bibliographic reference for the resource. Recommended practice is to include sufficient bibliographic detail to identify the resource as unambiguously as possible. Ater, Renée. "Remembering and Commemorating the United States Colored Troops: The African American Civil War Memorial in Washington, DC." In Tell It With Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augusts Saint-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial, by Sarah Greenough and Nancy Anderson, 112-126. Yale University Press, 2013. Alan Skerrett, Jr, ed. "Monuments to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) [African American Civil War Soldiers: The List." Jubilo! The Emancipation Century Blog, May 30, 2011. Accessed February 11, 2026. https://jubiloemancipationcentury.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/monuments-to-the-united-states-colored-troops-usct-the-list/. Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Renée Ater bas-relief bronze Civil War figurative granite inscription memorial wall names stainless steel