Primary Source Spotlight: Harriet Tubman

Moses of her people - San Francisco Call

From America’s Library

Born: c. 1820, Dorchester County, Maryland
Died: March 10, 1913, Auburn, New York

Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse.

Harriet: The Moses of Her People (book) | curator note about the book

More books & articles about Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman timeline and select newspaper articles

More Harriet Tubman historical newspaper coverage

Harriet Tubman image set

Contemporary U.S. legislation related to Harriet Tubman

The Story of Harriet Tubman The Brownies’ Book March, 1921

More stories about Harriet Tubman America’s Library

Harriet Tubman brief bio from PBS

Examining the Narrative of Harriet Tubman lesson plan

Library blog posts