Donated by local historian Linda Hass and Spring Arbor University Assistant Art Professor Brianne Witt, this collection contains images depicting Jackson’s role in the Underground Railroad. The clandestine system of transportation facilitated the escape of freedom seekers from slave states in the South to Free states in the North and other countries from the early 1800s to 1865. Collection items include sketches and photographs of local activists, pertinent landmarks, maps and photographs of quilts commissioned by Hass, based on her research. Items also include copies of Jackson abolition newspapers, including Michigan’s first abolition newspaper, the American Freeman.
Linda Hass is a Jackson-based researcher, writer, and presenter with a special interest in the Underground Railroad. She has written three books and has successfully researched state and national historical designations.
“Hidden History Brought to Light” was made possible by the Lloyd and Judy Ganton Art Gallery, whose facility at Spring Arbor University exhibited Underground Railroad-themed works of art in the gallery itself and hosted the related power point presentation in the gallery’s foyer. The month-long exhibit was held in February 2022 and the presentation was held on Feb. 19, 2022. Both were in honor of Black History Month.
Brianne Witt, Assistant Professor of Art at Spring Arbor University, has an extensive background in printmaking and in a broad range of media. Her artwork has been displayed in shows where she received multiple awards and recognition for her drawings, prints and paintings.
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Credits
“Jacksonburg Public Square: An Antislavery Hub” appeared in Michigan History, a magazine published by the Historical Society of Michigan, Vol. 105 No. 3, May/June 2021. www.hsmichigan.org.
“A Legacy of Freedom: Richard and Emma Nichols” appeared in Chronicle, a magazine published by the Historical Society of Michigan, Vol. 43 No. 3, Fall 2020. www.hsmichigan.org.
