The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has a huge collection of materials available for teachers relating to African American History. In our resource guide, we highlight several collections that are full of sources for teacher use. One such collection is related to William Still. As the station master of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia, Still kept a journal of the fugitive slaves he helped to safety. He decided to keep a journal after he helped rescue his brother, Peter Still, and he hoped that the journal would reunite more families separated by slavery.

Another resource about African Americans in Philadelphia is the Emilie Davis Diaries. Emilie Davis was a free black woman living in Philadelphia during the Civil War. Her diaries, though small in size, document what it was like to live in Philadelphia from 1863-1865. They also offers a new perspective to students by showing them the life of an average person.

To see even more examples, check out our full resources guide for teachers. This resource guide contains the sources we hoped would be most relevant to teachers, and provides links to many of our documents. Please contact us with any further questions and remember to check out our upcoming professional development opportunities.