William Still, was a very important figure in the abolitionist movement in the United States. Known as the “Father of the Underground Railroad,” Still played a crucial role in aiding and assisting at least 649 enslaved Africans escape to freedom. His contributions extended beyond his work with the Underground Railroad; he was also a successful businessman, writer, historian, and civil rights activist.
Born on October 7, 1819, in Shamong Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, William Still was the youngest of eighteen children born to former slaves Charity and Levin Still. His parents had migrated separately to New Jersey. Levin Still had bought his freedom in 1798 from his master in Caroline County, Maryland, and moved north to New Jersey. Charity, his mother, escaped twice from Maryland. The first time, she and four children were recaptured and returned to slavery. A few months later, Charity escaped again, taking only her two younger daughters with her, and reached her husband in New Jersey. Following her escape, Charity and Levin had 14 more children, of whom William was the youngest.
Despite being born in the free state of New Jersey, William and his siblings were legally considered slaves under Maryland and federal slave law because their mother was an escaped slave. However, New Jersey law recognized them as free. The family settled in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, in a small township named Shamong Township.
William’s older brothers, Levin, Jr., and Peter Still, remained enslaved in Maryland and were later sold to slave owners in Kentucky and Alabama. Levin, Jr., died from a whipping while enslaved, but Peter eventually escaped from slavery with the help of two brothers named Friedman. Peter later sought help at the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, where he met William Still. Initially unaware of their relationship, William recognized Peter’s story as the one his mother had told him many times. This realization led to an emotional reunion—not only between William and Peter but also between Peter and their mother, who had been separated from him for 42 years
In 1844, William Still moved from New Jersey to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1847, he married Letitia George, and they had four children who survived infancy. Their oldest child, Caroline Virginia Matilda Still, became one of the first Black women to become a physician in the United States. She attended Oberlin College and the Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia and had an extensive private medical practice in Philadelphia. William’s other children, William Wilberforce Still, Robert George Still, and Frances Ellen Still, also achieved notable success in their respective fields.
William Still’s activism began in earnest when he started working as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society in 1847. He became the chairman of the Vigilance Committee of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, which was responsible for directly aiding escaped slaves who had reached Philadelphia. His home on Ronaldson Street became a crucial way station on the Underground Railroad.
Still’s meticulous records of the people he assisted were instrumental in helping families reunite. He interviewed each person and kept detailed records, including brief biographies and their destinations. These records were carefully hidden but proved critical in aiding the future reunion of family members separated by slavery.
Still’s network extended beyond Philadelphia, collaborating with other Underground Railroad agents in the South, including Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and southern Pennsylvania. His network also included agents in New Jersey, New York, New England, and Canada. He provided material support and encouragement for Harriet Tubman, who became one of the most famous conductors of the Underground Railroad. Additionally, he sheltered several of John Brown’s associates who fled after the 1859 raid on Harpers Ferry, offering them protection as they sought safety from government persecution.
Among those he helped was Anna Maria Weems, a teenager who escaped slavery by disguising herself as a male carriage driver. With Still’s assistance, she successfully reached British North America, where her family was resettled alongside other fugitive slaves. His meticulous record-keeping and direct involvement in numerous escape efforts made him a key figure in the Underground Railroad. Altogether, he played a crucial role in helping at least 649 enslaved Africans escape to freedom.
During the American Civil War, Still operated the post exchange at Camp William Penn, the training camp for United States Colored Troops north of Philadelphia. He also opened a stove store and bought a coal yard, which he continued to operate after the war.
In 1867, Still published “A Brief Narrative of the Struggle for the Rights of Colored People of Philadelphia in the City Railway Cars, advocating for the integration of public transit. His efforts culminated in the Pennsylvania legislature passing a law in 1865 to integrate streetcars across the state.
In 1872, Still published “The Underground Railroad Records“, based on the secret notes he had kept during his years aiding escaped slaves. The book chronicles the stories and methods of some 649 slaves who escaped to freedom via the Underground Railroad. The book went through three editions and was displayed at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. Historians have since used it to understand the workings of the Underground Railroad.
After the war, Still continued as an active businessman, philanthropist, and social activist in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. In addition to his coal business, he owned considerable real estate, including Liberty Hall, the largest public hall in the U.S. owned by a black man at the time. He was also a member of Philadelphia’s Board of Trade and financed the Social and Civil Statistical Association of Philadelphia.
Still remained active in the Colored Conventions Movement and advocated for equal educational opportunities for African Americans. He was involved in various philanthropic activities, including establishing an orphanage and the first YMCA for African Americans in Philadelphia. He also served on the boards of the Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Home and the Home for the Destitute Colored Children.
William Still passed away on July 14, 1902, at the age of 83, at his home at 726 South 19th Street in Philadelphia. He was laid to rest in Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Today, Eden Cemetery stands as the nation’s oldest African American-owned cemetery and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
In March 2018, Still’s 1850–1855 residence was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. To this day, his work in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad remains influential, with his records offering invaluable insights into the lives of those who escaped slavery.
Sources:
https://www.phila.gov/media/20190401092648/625-S-Delhi-St-nomination.pdf
https://exhibits.temple.edu/s/william-still/item/19173
