RECOMMENDED READING LIST
 

Josiah Henson

1003 The Life of Josiah Henson: Formerly a Slave Josiah Henson
Josiah Henson's autobiography (1796-1883) was first printed in 1849. Born into slavery about 1796 in Charles County, Maryland, he escaped to Upper Canada in 1830 through the Underground Railroad. In 1841, Henson established the British American Institute for refugee slaves. Harriet Beecher Stowe acknowledged his memoirs as a source for her novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

1111 Uncle Tom's Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) directed her anti-slavery sentiments into a novel depicting the evils of slavery. Uncle Tom's Cabin was originally published serially during 1851-1852. Stowe drew upon a variety of source in the creation of her book, one of them being Josiah Henson's autobiography. In its first year of print, the text sold more than 300,000 copies; it was subsequently translated into many different languages.

Non-Fiction for Young Adults

1048 Get On Board: The Story of the Underground Railroad Jim Haskins
A history of the Underground Railroad for young adults. Haskin's text offers a detailed look at the passage to freedom by examining key figures in the movement, first-hand accounts, and stories of ingenious methods of escape. This is a key text in promoting awareness of the significance of the Underground Railroad.

Adult Non-Fiction

1117 Against All Odds Stephen L. Hubbard
The biography of William Hubbard, a prominent Toronto politician in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries. Hubbard's story of rising from baker to the political office of acting Mayor of Toronto is one of determination and strength, particularly when one considers that he did so at a time of prevalent racial discrimination.

1225 The Hanging of Angelique by Afua Cooper
This novel tells the story of a rebellious Portuguese-born Black woman who refused to accept her bondage.  In a dramatic retelling of Angélique’s story, Cooper sheds new light on what might have compelled a young woman to commit such a crime.  At the same time, Cooper demolishes the myth of Canada as a haven at the end of the Underground Railroad.

1500 Underground Railroad Booklet: Official Handbook
A treasure trove of historic photographs and illustrations, this booklet depicts the many ways that blacks took to escape slavery in the southern United States before the Civil War.  These accompany a number of essays which further explore the mysteries of the Underground Railroad.

1100 The Underground Railroad: Official Map and Guide
A complementary piece to the Underground Railroad Booklet, this map and guide provides a general overview of the activities and key figures in the Underground Railroad through a variety of images, maps, and timelines.

100 A Visitor’s Guide to Ontario’s Underground Railroad
Ontario’s Underground Railroad communities have been arranged geographically from Windsor and Niagara in the south, to Owen Sound and Grey County in the north to reflect the travel and settlement patterns of the black refugees in Upper Canada circa 1800.  Use this guide to plan your personal exploration of Ontario’s history.

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