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Joseph Rodney: Freedom Seeker on the Illinois Central Railroad--- Saturday, November 14
--- 2-3:30pm; Community Room 2
This presentation from Darrel Dexter will share the story of Joseph who was enslaved on a plantation in Mississippi County, Missouri, and of his escape to Cairo, Illinois, in 1855. Joseph dodged slave catchers while his enslaver, Thomas Rodney, followed him to Chicago. Joseph and Thomas met on the street outside the train station in Chicago, but Joseph was able to escape to freedom with the help of "friends" on the Underground Railroad.
Thomas Rodney brought suit against the Illinois Central Railroad Company for selling Joseph a ticket in a court case that reached the Illinois Supreme Court. The significant decision of the court was that all persons in Illinois are assumed to be free regardless of skin color.
This is a companion program to the Looking for Lincoln travelling exhibit "Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad", offered in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History.
The exhibit will remain on display in Community Room 1 during all the library's open hours through November 30, 2026.
Questions about this program can be emailed to Sara or Marcie at [email protected].
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Event venue
205 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL, United States, Illinois 61701
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