Local History:
The library is pleased to have a copy of Gerald A. McWorter’s book on the local historical site of New Philadelphia
(Information taken from back cover) New Philadelphia, Illinois, was an abolitionist town just 20 miles from slavery, inhabited for more than 100 years. Town founder Frank McWorter bought a total of 16 family members out of slavery, starting with his pregnant wife. Thanks to the efforts of local activists and others, New Philadelphia has been recognized:
1988 — Frank McWorter gravesite on the National Register of Historic Places
2002-2011 — Archaeological dig funded by the national Science Foundation
2009 — National Historic Landmark
2013 — National Park Service Network to Freedom
2017 — In the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and National Museum of African American History and Culture
2018 — Under study to become a National Park
Authors:
Gerald A. McWorter is a great-great-grandson of Frank McWorter and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
Kate Williams-McWorter is associate professor at the same university
