Projects

Harriet Tubman Boosters

Harriet Tubman Mural - downtown Auburn, NY - visit the mural web page HERE!

Harriet Tubman lived the last 50 years of her life in Auburn, New York. She is best known for her work on the Underground Railroad. However, what is less familiar is that she worked as a nurse, scout and spy during the Civil War becoming the first woman in military history to ever plan and lead a raid freeing more than 750 enslaved persons in South Carolina. She was recently inducted into the American Military Hall of Fame as a result. She went on to speak on behalf of Women's Suffrage in several cities in the Northeast and started both the John Brown Hospital and her Home for the Aged for sick and elderly African Americans in Auburn. This mural represents these lesser known stories of her life and will be displayed on a building in the center of downtown Auburn to help educate both local citizens and visitors to our community about the rest of her story.

Harriet Tubman Research & Song-Writing Project - to learn more and listen to all of the songs, visit this webpage!

Since 2014, Auburn 4th grade students have participated in a "Harriet Was Here" song-writing residency with the folk duo Magpie (Greg Artzner and Terry Leonino) in which they researched one aspect of Harriet Tubman's life and create lyrics to an original song. This project was developed by the non-profit social justice organization "John Brown Lives!" and has also received ongoing support from the Harriet Tubman Boosters of Auburn, NY.

“Centering Black Women: Race in the Woman Suffrage Movement”Lecture

New York State signed voting rights for women into law three years before the United States passed the 19th Amendment. The year 2017 marks the centennial of women's suffrage in New York State. To commemorate this anniversary, Humanities New York fostered a statewide dialogue about the lasting legacy of women's suffrage, and how it continues to shape American democracy today. As a part of this effort, The Harriet Tubman Boosters sponsored a lecture by SUNY Oneonta Professor of History, Dr. Susan Goodier on Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Harriet on the Hill Day in Washington, D.C. for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act

On September 14, 2011, Rosemarie Romano and Laurel Ullyette of the HTBC joined Auburn Mayor Michael Quill, past-Mayor Guy Cosentino, Chamber of Commerce Exec. Dir. Andrew Fish, Rev. Paul G. Carter and City Planning Dept. member Tricia Ottley, in lobbying in Washington, D.C. at the "Harriet on the Hill" Day, on behalf of the passage of the legislation. Legislation was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Dec. 19, 2014 making the dual site the first ever recognizing an African-American Woman.

Harriet Tubman: No Longer Underground A Centennial Symposium held at Cayuga Community College, Nov. 8-9, 2013

This was the first academic symposium ever held on Harriet Tubman in Auburn, NY. Details about the speakers and program may be found at this website: http://www.cayuga-cc.edu/tubman/pages.php?p=81Left to right: Front, HTBC President Laurel Ullyette, Deidre’ Johnson Stanford, Rosemarie Romano, Pauline Copes JohnsonBack: Melissa Howell, Keynote Speaker Kate Clifford Larson, Joy Lewis, John Kingsley

Harriet Tubman Memorial Highway

The Harriet Tubman Boosters is proud to have formulated and carried out the effort to name NYS Route 34 "The Harriet Tubman Memorial Highway". In 2010 we conceived of the idea to name a state route for Harriet Tubman and selected Rt. 34 for its symbolism of running north and south and because it runs directly past the Harriet Tubman Home at 180 South Street in Auburn. We approached Sen. David Valesky who was happy to introduce the legislation in the NYS Senate. Assemblyman Gary Finch was successful in enlisting every member of the NYS Assembly in signing on as a co-sponsor of the legislation. Governor David Patterson signed it into law that same year. We were finally successful in setting up a formal dedication ceremony with the support and cooperation of Auburn's Mayor Michael Quill as a kick off to the 2013 Centennial Year Harriet Tubman Founders Day event. The Cayuga County Health Department sponsored a "Walk in Harriet's Footsteps" symbolizing the many miles Harriet walked back and forth between her home, William Seward's house and downtown Auburn over her 50 years here. Due to planned construction there will be a delay in actually placing the two NYS highway signs at the north and south gateways to Auburn, but like Harriet, the HTBC will "Keep Going" until it's done.

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What Would Harriet Do?

Jan. 18 & 19, 2013. – Harriet Tubman Boosters What Would Harriet Do? Series. 1/2hr film “Not for Sale”, discussion on Tubman and Seward’s roles in abolition, Human Trafficking (modern day slavery), at Auburn Public Theater.
July 29 - Aug. 2 - “What Would Harriet Do?” - "Auburn Heroes" week at Booker T. Washington Community Center Summer Youth Program. The children will participate in a wide variety of activities, including learning how Harriet Tubman grew food and sold it to Auburn residents, engaging in this character trait of self-sufficiency in their own lives by growing their own food in the BTW community garden. They will also visit key historical sites in Auburn, modeling Harriet Tubman’s dedication to helping others by engaging in community service.
Oct. 19, 2013 - "What Would Harriet Do?" - Program with Hospice and Absolute Dance Company recognizing Tubman's humanitarian work with the sick and aged. Special Harriet Tubman "Ribbons of Hope" performance by ADC.

The Life of Harriet Tubman: A Spiritual Journey Through Music

Syracuse Gospel Music Workshop of America. Concert performed at Willard Chapel, Auburn, NY, on Feb. 12, 2012.