Native Daughter, The Life of Sojourner Truth in Ulster County with Anne Gordon

Discovering and understanding the lives of slaves living in Ulster County in the 18^th and 19^thcenturies has always been a challenge. There are few written records and those that exist are found deep within archives and other obscure sources. Anne Gordon has undertaken just such a search uncovering copious amounts of information on the early life of one of Ulster County’s and America’s most influential and fascinating daughters, Sojourner Truth.

After she escaped slavery, became an abolitionist and activist for women’s rights, Sojourner Truth published her memoirs in The Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave.  In May of 1851, Truth delivered a speech at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron. The extemporaneous speech, recorded by several observers, would come to be known as “Ain’t I a Woman?” Following the path that she believes God set before her, she spent the rest of her life ministering to others and fighting for these causes.

Ms. Gordon became interested in this topic when the Town of Esopus set aside land to honor Sojourner Truth. It took five years to raise the money for this project and during this time Ms. Gordon, then the Ulster County Historian, dove into researching the life of this famous African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist.  Sojourner Truth lived her first years as Isabella Baumfree in what was then the Town of Hurley but is now the Town of Esopus. Ms. Gordon’s research culminated in her trip to Battle Creek, Michigan, where Sojourner Truth is buried and where a 14 foot statue honors her.

Ms. Gordon, a resident of the Hudson Valley for over 30 years,  was recently named a New York Registered Public Historian. Her background in library and archival work for the City of New York and her experience in local government have been important in her work.

Free for UCHS members, $7.00 for non-members, $5 for students, seniors and the military.