"William Still was one of the main leaders of the Underground Railroad. Based in Philadelphia, Still built a reputation as a courageous abolitionist, writer, philanthropist, and guide for fugitive slaves. Throughout the 1840s and 1850s, Still assisted the Railroad and helped nearly a thousand slaves escape from the South to the North and Canada. Still worked personally with Harriet Tubman, assisted the family of John Brown and helped Brown's associates escape from Harper's Ferry after their famous raid, and was a rival to Frederick Douglass among nationally prominent African American abolitionists. It's no surprise Still is often referred to as "The Father of the Underground Railroad," and yet shockingly little biographical work has been done on the man. In this comprehensive biography, William Kashatus reveals the life of Still as he was based in Philadelphia and yet impacted the entire nation. Unique to this book is an authoritative compilation of detailed information on escaped slaves assisted by Still. Nearly 1000 names in all, Kashatus has done the heavy archival research to compile as much information as possible on these individuals slaves, providing an indispensable resource for historians and readers interested in the life and reality of the Underground Railroad"-- Provided by publisher.