Josiah Grinnell & The Underground Railroad

Josiah Bushnell Grinnell and other Grinnell residents helped at least 37 fugitive slaves who passed through their town before the Civil War through the Iowa Underground Railroad, but some residents opposed this work.

David Connon will tell a story of racism, noble actions, and conflict. He will highlight abolitionist John Brown’s visit to Grinnell, and Grinnell’s first riot over the presence of fugitive slaves in the public school.

Funded project of Humanities Iowa, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.