Tubman, Harriet, 1822-1913

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Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross; b. ca. 1822–d. March 10, 1913) was an American abolitionist, humanitarian, and an armed scout and spy for the United States Army during the American Civil War. Born into slavery, Tubman escaped and subsequently made thirteen missions to rescue approximately seventy enslaved families and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad. She later helped abolitionist John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era was an active participant in the struggle for women's suffrage. Born a slave in Dorchester County, Maryland, Tubman escaped to Philadelphia in 1849, then returned to Maryland to rescue her family. Slowly, one group at a time, she brought relatives with her out of the state, and eventually guided dozens of other slaves to freedom. After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, she helped guide fugitives farther north into British North America, and helped newly freed slaves find work. When the Civil War began, Tubman worked for the Union Army, first as a cook and nurse, and then as an armed scout and spy. The first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, she guided the raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 slaves. After the war, she retired to the family home on property she had purchased in 1859 in Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents. She was active in the women's suffrage movement until illness overtook her and she had to be admitted to a home for elderly African Americans that she had helped to establish years earlier. After she died in 1913, she became an icon of American courage and freedom.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sanborn, Franklin Benjamin, Papers, 1847—1915 American Antiquarian Society
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Lutz, Alma, 1890-1973. Collection of documents by and about abolitionists and women's rights activists, 1775-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1890 (1969-1973) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Hats : a tribute to Harriet Tubman: typescript, n.d. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn George R. Metcalf papers, 1956-1971 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Records of the Project on the Status and Education of Women (Association of American Colleges), (inclusive), (bulk), 1969-1991, 1971-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Gioffre, Marisa. Bread and roses : a documentary play with music on the history of American women from the 19th century to the present : typescript, 1975. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn A woman called Moses. Segment II. The fulfilling : teleplay University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Scrapbook, 1852-1873. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Ethnic Heritage Studies: Developing a Programmed Literature Unit Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies Library
referencedIn Lutz, Alma, 1890-1973. Collection of documents by and about abolitionists and women's rights activists, 1775-1943 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn W. Sherman Savage Collection, c.1950-1981 The Huntington Library
referencedIn Hazzard, Florence Woolsey, 1903-1992. Papers, 1819-1976 (bulk: 1925-1965) Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Bobbye S. Ortiz Papers, (bulk, 1919-1993 and undated, 1950-1990) David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Samuel Joseph May Diary, 1866. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Records of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1789 - 2015. Accompanying Papers. 1865 - 1903. Accompanying Papers of the 55th Congress. 3/15/1897 - 3/3/1899. Senate Report 1619 to Accompany a Bill Granting a Pension to Harriet Tubman Davis Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn General Affidavit of Harriet Tubman Relating to Her Claim for a Pension Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884. Papers, 1555-1882 (bulk: 1833-1881) Houghton Library
referencedIn Harriet Tubman : file of clippings and miscellanea. Michigan State University Libraries, Main Library
referencedIn Hazzard, Florence Woolsey, 1903-1992. Papers, 1819-1976 (bulk: 1925-1965) Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Five Stuart Princesses.. United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Follow the Drinking Gourd: A Play About Harriet Tubman / by Colleen J. McElroy, 1986 - reading script. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
referencedIn Associated Press. [Photograph of Rosa Parks] [picture] / Associated Press. Shenandoah University, Alson H. Smith, Jr. Library
referencedIn Harriet Tubman research material, 1939-1940 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Approved Pension File for Harriet Tubman Davis, Widow of Private Nelson Davis (alias Nelson Charles), Company G, 8th U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment (WC-415288) National Archives at Washington, D.C
Relation Name
memberOf African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church corporateBody
associatedWith ALMA LUTZ, 1890-1973 person
associatedWith Anthony, Susan Brownell, 1820-1906 person
associatedWith Black Theatre Canada Archives. corporateBody
associatedWith Bradford, Sarah Hopkins, 1818-1912 person
associatedWith Brown, John, 1800-1859 person
associatedWith Cheney, Jane, 1811-1885. person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Conrad, Earl person
associatedWith Conrad, Earl. person
correspondedWith Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 person
associatedWith Elder, Lonne. person
associatedWith Florence (Woolsey) Hazzard, 1903- person
associatedWith Franks, Saundra Dunson. person
associatedWith Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879 person
associatedWith Gioffre, Marisa. person
associatedWith Hazzard, Florence Woolsey, 1903- person
associatedWith Hazzard, Florence Woolsey, 1903-1992. person
associatedWith Howland, Emily, 1827-1929 person
associatedWith Lutz, Alma, person
associatedWith May, Samuel J. (Samuel Joseph), 1797-1871. person
associatedWith Metcalf, George R., 1914- person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Montgomery, James, 1814-1871 person
memberOf National Association of Colored Women's Clubs (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Ortiz, Bobbye S. person
correspondedWith Phillips, Wendell, 1811-1884 person
associatedWith Project on the Status and Education of Women (Association of American Colleges) person
associatedWith Sanborn, F. B. (Franklin Benjamin), 1831-1917. person
associatedWith Savage, W. Sherman (William Sherman). person
associatedWith Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872 person
associatedWith Shaw, Robert Gould, 1837-1863 person
associatedWith Siebert, Wilbur Henry, 1866-1961 person
associatedWith Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States 00 US
Auburn NY US
Philadelphia PA US
Dorchester County MD US
Subject
Abolition
American Civil War (1861-1865)
Antislavery movements
Civil rights
Fugitive slaves
Nursing
Sufferage
Underground railroad
Occupation
Abolitinists
Civil rights activists
Cooks
Nurses
Suffragettes
Activity

Person

Birth 1822

Death 1913-03-10

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6tz44ht

SNAC ID: 83847206