1834 – Abolitionist William Still Born, Key Figure in the Underground Railroad

Born on June 16, 1821, in Burlington County, New Jersey, William Still was a free-born African American who played a critical role in the Underground Railroad. Often called the “Father of the Underground Railroad,” Still documented detailed accounts of over 600 fugitive slaves he assisted. His meticulous records, published in his book The Underground Railroad (1872), are some of the most comprehensive first-person narratives from that era. Unlike many in the movement, Still preserved names and routes to ensure future generations would know the scale of this resistance. As a son of formerly enslaved parents, he combined activism with historical preservation, providing vital insight into the operations of the secret network that helped freedom seekers reach Canada and Northern states. June 16 marks the birth of a freedom fighter whose pen and courage challenged slavery’s erasure and honored the human will to be free.