• Menu
    social media link
  • Home
  • Join or donate!
  • News
  • New Philadelphia, Illinois
    • The Western Frontier 1809-1865
  • Books and more
    • Lesson Plans
    • Books
    • Reports and Journals
    • Videos
    • More research
  • Visit New Philadelphia
    • Kiosk
    • Augmented Reality
    • Burdick House
  • About us
    • History of the New Philadelphia Association
    • Board of Directors

September 13, 2021—Free Frank Freedom Day

Post-event update: We’re very pleased to share

  • video of the event at the New Philadelphia site
  • full text of Sandra McWorter Marsh’s remarks on the women of New Philadelphia
  • video of Brigadier General Donald Scott’s remarks at the Barry Baptist Church
  • Quincy Herald-Whig article about the day (requires login)
  • And the video below made by Quincy University TV.  Thank you all!

 

 

We’re pleased to announce this event and thank the St. Louis Post Dispatch for picking up the story (link)!

By Rebecca Winner

On September 13, 2021, the New Philadelphia Association will honor Free Frank McWorter, who in 1836 was the first African American to plat and register a town in the United States.

Frank McWorter purchased his freedom and became Free Frank 202 years ago on September 13, 1819. This event celebrating his freedom is part of the Pike County, IL, Bicentennial Celebration and the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Month. Retired Brig. Gen. Donald L. Scott will be the event’s keynote speaker.

Free Frank Freedom Day will begin at 2 p.m. at the town site east of Barry, IL, and will continue at 4 p.m. at the Barry Baptist Church for the keynote address.

To learn more about New Philadelphia, visit www.newphiladelphiail.org. Recent newspaper articles are to be found in the Chicago Tribune (pdf) at https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-flashback-new-philadelphia-frank-mcworter-20210212-udbwwjdzf5gkxd6gi2q4gijy34-story.html and the Quincy Herald-Whig (pdf) at https://www.whig.com/news/illinois-news/work-continues-to-make-new-philadelphia-part-of-national-park-system/article_27f401a4-c15b-57a9-8297-d90802e57f19.html

For more information contact Marynel Corton, Executive Director, New Philadelphia Association, 217-335-2716, jecorton@aol.com

Posted in Uncategorized

← June 2021—Likes Lectures offer five freedom stories relating to New Philadelphia
Fall 2021 New Philadelphia Newsletter in the mail →

Contacts:
Philip Bradshaw, President, NPA
Griggsville, IL 62340

Carol McCartney, Secretary, NPA
E-mail: jeffm@adams.net

Help us preserve the New Philadelphia site.

Become a Member!

Founded in 1836 by Frank McWorter, New Philadelphia is the first known town planned and legally registered by an African American in the United States. Frank McWorter used his earnings to purchase 16 family members out of slavery. The site of this frontier community of European Americans and African Americans is a nationally significant archeological site advancing our understanding of free, rural communities and the abolitionist cause in the antebellum era.

Contact Us
Sending
©2023 New Philadelphia | Site by Energized Graphics