BROOKLYN — The Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS), the Weeksville Heritage Center and Irondale Ensemble Project have been chosen to receive two major federal grants to fund their joint project “In Pursuit of Freedom,� a multifaceted program that memorializes the history of abolitionism and the Underground Railroad in Brooklyn.

The U.S. Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education’s Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural (URR) Program has awarded BHS $936,000; and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded $400,000 to the program, which was originally announced last year.

In Pursuit of Freedom will provide new resources for understanding Brooklyn’s leading role in the abolitionist movement through exhibitions, a Web site, historic markers, walking tours, a commissioned outdoor public artwork, an original theater piece and more.

The term “Underground Railroad� referred to a route of safe houses by which escaped Southern slaves were helped to complete their then-illegal journey to slavery-free Canada.

A Story Untold

“The history of abolition is complex and powerful,� said Deborah Schwartz, president of the Brooklyn Historical Society. “The struggle for freedom was not only fought on battle fields, but also in churches, schools, newspapers and communities all over America. Brooklyn leaders and activists, black and white, were vital to the national movement. Their untold stories need to be understood.�

These awards complement $2 million already granted by the city in 2008 through a Request for Proposals that was initiated by the Downtown Brooklyn Development Corporation.

The project to commemorate Brooklyn’s abolitionist history stems, at least in part, from a controversy several years ago, over an urban-renewal plan to destroy several 19th century homes on Duffield Street that were reportedly linked to the Underground Railroad. The Duffield Street houses have since been saved.

One of the Duffield Street homes, number 227, was spared in a settlement with the city in 2007. Its owner, Joy Chatel, pledged to continue giving tours of her home and using it as a center where people can learn about the Underground Railroad and abolitionist activity in Brooklyn. Another known Underground Railroad site in Brooklyn is the former Bridge Street A.W.M.E. Church building, now part of Polytechnic University.

“I am impressed that the project links three highly esteemed Brooklyn cultural entities to provide a deeper understanding of Brooklyn’s rich and historical impact on the abolitionist movement,� said U.S. Rep. Ed Towns, who has supported In Pursuit of Freedom from its inception.

Prominent Scholars

A team of prominent scholars from Yale, George Washington University, Brooklyn College, MIT and other institutions will guide the program and provide scholarly expertise.

The In Pursuit of Freedom program comprises four interrelated components:

• A commemorative artistic installation in Downtown Brooklyn. The installation will be the starting point for visitors to follow a series of historical markers at sites throughout the borough. A self-guided walking tour of these sites will also be available at key locations in Brooklyn.

• Three interpretative exhibits. Installed at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Weeksville Heritage Center and the Irondale Center at Lafayette Avenue Church, each installation will include images, maps and primary source documents, and will be closely aligned with the needs of teachers and students.

• An original ensemble-created theater piece. The play will draw upon the story of abolitionism in Brooklyn as it relates to important issues that continue to challenge contemporary society.

• An interactive Web site. The Web site will connect all of the components to make the project available to a national and international audience.

All aspects of the project will utilize historic artifacts and documents held by the Brooklyn Historical Society.

Among these are a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln; original letters written by Henry Ward Beecher and fellow abolitionist William Wilson; propaganda tracts; numerous slave bills of sale; as well as newspapers, anti-slavery pamphlets from the 1840s; and early photographs of the people and places crucial to the story.

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