A lecture on An East Tennessean's Role in the Underground Railroad
will be at the East Tennessee Historical Society.
Freedom was more than an abstract idea for the Rev. John Rankin. His life in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio, was devoted to the idea that all people should enjoy the liberty promised in the founding documents of the United States of America, ETHS officials said.
In his lifetime he was credited as a leader in the movement to free slaves in the United States. He also played a role in the creation of a literary classic, Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriett Beecher Stowe.
The East Tennessee Historical Society celebrates the life of Rev. Rankin at a special Brown Bag Lecture this summer. William Bothamley, a descendant of
the Rankin family, will present the lecture at noon, Tuesday, July 16, at
the East Tennessee History Center in downtown Knoxville.
John Rankin was born in East Tennessee in 1793. From his Volunteer State beginnings and deeply rooted religious beliefs, he would become one of the most influential proponents of the abolition of slavery in the mid-19th
century. Not just one to speak on the subject, Rev. Rankin also practiced his beliefs. From 1825 to 1865 Rankin is credited with helping to shelter more than 2,000 slaves escaping to freedom on the legendary Underground Railroad, with as many as 12 escapees being hidden in the Rankin home at one time.
Rankin's home holds a prominent role in American literary history, as well. It is reported that while visiting Rankin's home, Harriet Beecher Stowe heard the stories of an escaping slave that would become the basis for her famous work, Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Lectures are generally held each month at noon and are free to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch to enjoy during the lunch hours presentation. Soft drinks will be available from ETHS. Lectures are held at the East Tennessee History Center (600
Market St.) in downtown Knoxville.
The East Tennessee Historical Society, headquartered in Knoxville, is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the state of Tennessee. Founded in 1834,
ETHS is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and promoting the history of East Tennessee. The society's programs and activities are made possible through the support of its membership.
For additional information about the 2002 Brown Bag Lecture Series and other ETHS activities, call (865) 215-8824 or visit the society's web site at www.east-tennessee-history.org.