UGRR resources across Illinois

A wide variety of materials on freedom seekers and the Underground Railroad are available on the Internet. 

For other specifics on the UGRR in Chicago and Northeastern Illinois -- go the page for NE IL & Chicago.   See also Larry McClellan's recent books on the UGRR South of Chicago and on the journey of Caroline Quarlls.

For a recent source that helps re-frame this history by affirming freedom seekers journeys, see the Chicago Tribune from September, 2023.

Network to Freedom of the National Park Service -  This is the central national UGRR program and network.

See the work of Glennette Tilly Turner, author of The Underground Railroad in Illinois, a mentor and colleague for many of us.
Explore the Illinois materials in Wilbur H. Siebert Collection at the Ohio Historical Society
"The UGRR" from Historical Encylopedia of IL, 1901

Following is an expanding list of Places and People in Illinois related to the UGRR

PLACES 
Alton -- UGRR                                                   
Brooklyn - "America's First Black Town" & Archaeology Project
Byron --  Read House and NTF site
Chicago -- many - Ton Farm, homes of Jones, Wagoner, Ford, Hudlin, Atkinson +  and homes of Carpenter, Freer, Dyer +  Tremont House, Lind lumberyard, Quinn Chapel
Collinsville -- Bethel Church
Crete  -- Beebe's Grove [Cushing/Cook/Beebe farms]
Downers Grove -- Blodgett House
Equality -- Old Slave House

Galesburg -  and Knox College
Gurnee -- "Mother Rudd" House
New Philadelphia -- Historic sites and Free Frank
Jacksonville -- Morgan County Hist Society and Woodlawn Farm
Lombard -- Sheldon Peck House
Ottawa - John Hossack House
Princeton - Owen Lovejoy Home
Quincy -- Richard Ells House    
Springfield - Jameson Jenkins and NTF site

Wheaton -- UGRR at Wheaton College