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Regional Public Information Forum Planning Committee

August 24, 2000

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

Through the National Park Service's Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, a Public Information Forum will be held on September 23, 2000, at 1:00pm in the Nelson Multi-Purpose Room, the Redd Watkins Vocational Technical Center on the Co-Lin Community College Natchez Campus.  This Forum is sponsored by the Natchez/Adams NAACP/FSER Committee*.  An official of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History was quoted in the Natchez Democrat (March 24, 2000) as saying that "Mississippi has done little to preserve sites important to Black progress.  We've got a lot of territory to make up".  By means of this Public Forum and other events, we will begin to tell "Ourstory" of the contributions we have made to the development of the Southwest, including Natchez.

We are asking for the support of the local Business Community in this endeavor.  If you, in any way, have factual information about the Underground Railroad, such as 1) "Stations" on the Underground Railroad, 2) Properties associated with prominent  persons, 3) "Slave" rebellion sites, 4) Properties associated with legal challenges to slavery, 5) Properties associated with documented "slave" escapes, 6) Properties associated with documented fugitive rescues, 7) Churches associated with congregations active in the Underground Railroad, 8) Maroon communities, 9) Archaeological sites, and 10) Other: Such as Oral History: What stories do you know that might help us fill in the gaps?  It is possible that your business site has some historical significance in this area.  We want to hear from you.

Funding for this project is limited.  Therefore we are also asking for monetary or in kind contributions, no amount is too small or too big, and all will be appreciated.  Please help to defray costs (phone, postage, printing, advertising, space rental, etc.)  Checks may be made payable to Natchez/Adams NAACP/UGRR and sent to P.O. Box 2188 Natchez, MS 39121**.  If you have any in kind donation, please call 601-442-4719.  Volunteers are also needed to help with research, organizing events, mailings, etc..  No one need be excluded from participating in this program.  The Underground Railroad reflects all people of all races.

Please be prompt in response to this letter, September 23d will be here before we know it!  We have much to do.  Your participation in any way, shape, form or manner will be most welcomed.

Sincerely,

Helen L. Brown and Ser Seshshab Heter-Boxley,

Member of the Collaborative Planning Committee

 

*NAACP - Alfred Hunter, Ex Office; Ser Seshshab Heter-Boxley, Chairman FSER; Charles Wright and Charles Sanders, Members FSER; Ralph Jennings, Project Southern Cross; Josephine Webster, Vidalia, LA; Kathy Moody, Laurel Hill Plantation; Andrew Robbins, retired Natchez Trace Park Ranger; James Taylor, Member Natchez Planning Commission; Larry Davis, Ma & Pa ascendant; Clarence Randall, VFW Post 590 Vidalia, LA; Carolyn Smith MCEP; Dr. Phillip Carr, USAL; Dr. Amy Young, USMS; Janet Sullivan, MDOT; George Wise, UAL, Tuscaloosa; Dorothy Sanders, Helen Brown, Rachel Woods, Angela Anderson and Members of the Community at large

**Contributions are not tax deductible

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