Hello Kate & Chris,

Thanks for your reponse and input. My "tirade" was not meant to be anti-anybody. I was simply trying to point out the many, many "little people" that were a part of this effort.

Two classic examples of this neglect in my area (Ohio) are Levi Coffin and the Rev. John Rankin. Claims and written records state they EACH helped thousands of fugitive slaves without losing nary a runaway. Both were located on the Ohio River in southern Ohio, Rankin in Ripley, Ohio and Coffin in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lake Erie and Canada are at the northern most extremes of Ohio. If freedom was to be found in Canada and points North of Ripley and Cincinnati......who picked up the fugitives from Coffin and Rankin? They (Coffin & Rankin) certainly did not "escort" the fugitves to Canada, a journey of 200+ miles.

I hope the recent thrust in UGRR research and education by the larger government and corporate entities will begin to put a light on the fact that the so-called heavy hitters were only a part of this "loosely organized" effort. The grassroots UGRR researchers and organizations are way out in front in this effort.

Art Thomas