Kathryn Harris began reenacting Harriet Tubman in the late 1990s, and does so in this interview. Harriet talks about her experiences as a ‘conductor’ for the antebellum Underground Railroad. Over a period of roughly ten years, Tubman made nearly a score of trips to the slave states to lead slaves to freedom in the north, risking her own life and freedom each time she went south. Harris has portrayed Tubman countless times, both to adult and children’s groups, and at the conclusion of the interview, she discusses how this experience has enriched her own life
Interview Links
Abstract
Audio Excerpt
Bounty On Her
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery & works on the Underground Railroad
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
More from Harriet, and Kathryn reflects on portraying her
Related Materials
See Also
See also Kathryn Harris's interview about her experiences growing up in Carbondale during the 1950s and '60, available at the 'Family Memories' page.
Videos
Photos
Caption
Harriet Tubman, from a photo taken of her, circa 1880.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1880
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Kathryn Harris dressed as Harriet Tubman, for her oral history interview on January 10, 2013. She was interviewed in the Governor’s Reception Room of the historic Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 10, 2013
Ownership:
ALPL photo
Caption
Kathryn Harris, as Harriet Tubman, and interviewer Mark DePue on January 10, 2013 in the Governor’s Reception Room of the historic Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 10, 2013
Ownership:
ALPL photo
Caption
A student from a Washington, D.C. area middle school asks Harriet Tubman a question at Kathryn Harris’s presentation during the Congressional Black Caucus’s Annual Legislative Conference on September 20, 2012 in Washington, D.C.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
September 20, 2012
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Dressed as Harriet Tubman, Harris poses with other speakers and guests at the Annual Legislative Conference, including Diane Miller, Representative Corrine Brown, Roger G. Stanton, and Addie Richburg.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
September, 2012
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The flyer which announced the Annual Legislative Conference event in September, 2012, where Kathryn Harris appeared as Harriet Tubman.
Where:
Washington, D.C.
When:
September, 2012
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Kathryn Harris, dressed as Harriet Tubman, for her oral history interview on January 10, 2013. She was interviewed in the Governor’s Reception Room of the historic Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 10, 2013
Ownership:
ALPL photo