

Abolition and the Underground Railroad (virtual)
June 15, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
| FreeAbout this event
Chester County was home to a diverse patchwork of religious communities, antislavery activities and free Black populations, all working to end the blight of slavery during the Civil War era. Kennett Square was known as the “hotbed of abolitionism” and “the hub of the Underground Railroad” with more Underground Railroad stations than anywhere else in the nation. The county’s myriad Quaker communities fostered strong abolitionist sentiment and a robust pool of activists aiding freedom seekers on their road to emancipation. Author Mark Lanyon captures the rich history of antislavery activity that transformed Chester County into a vital region in the nation’s fight for freedom.
Admission is Pay as You Wish! A donation is greatly appreciated, but if you are unable to make a donation at this time, a limited number of free tickets are available.
All proceeds benefit the development of future programming and the preservation of the History Center and its collections. The History Center is home to over 750,000 manuscripts and 100,000 photographs, and your donation helps us to preserve and share those resources.
The presentation is via Zoom, and will be recorded and available for 7 days for all registered participants. We will email out a Zoom link the day of the presentation, and email a link to the recording within 48 hours. Note: the Zoom link emailed out the day of the presentation only takes you to the live presentation; the link emailed out the day after will contain the recorded version.
Generously sponsored by the Haverford Trust Company.
About the Speaker
Mark Lanyon’s 20+ year career in behavioral health was launched when he was studying for his Master of Human Services degree at Lincoln University (LU ’98). During his career, Mark supervised and/or directed numerous behavioral health programs in settings such as the prison system, probation and parole system, hospitals and inpatient and outpatient behavioral health treatment programs. Since retiring, Mark has been able to concentrate on his research of the rich history present in Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. His research covered slavery, the Underground Railroad, the abolitionist movement, the Longwood Progressive Friends Meeting and the founding of Lincoln University.