Discover the story of Frank McWorter and New Philadelphia, the first US town platted and registered by an African American.
This program tells the story of the Frank McWorter family, the interracial town of New Philadelphia and freedom struggles across west central Illinois and the state, and in the context of the nineteenth century struggle for freedom nationally. Frank McWorter was born enslaved but worked to purchase the freedom of his wife, himself and fourteen other family members including grandchildren.
Gerald McWorter (Abdul Alkalimat) is professor emeritus of African American studies and information at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the great-great-grandson of Frank and Lucy McWorter, the founders of New Philadelphia.
Kate Williams-McWorter is associate professor emerita of information at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-author with Gerald of the book New Philadelphia.
This program is co-sponsored by Journey to Freedom: Illinois' Underground Railroad Speakers Bureau.
Conveniently located at the corner of Race and Green in downtown Urbana.
