Free Boy

Award-winning Seattle-based author and historian Lorraine McConaghy will read from and discuss her ground-breaking young adult book about an escaped slave who won his freedom in Canada.

Co-authored with Judith Bentley, Free Boy is the story of a 13-year-old slave who escaped from Washington Territory to freedom in Canada on the West’s Underground Railroad.

When James Tilton came to Washington Territory as surveyor-general in the 1850s he brought with his household young Charles Mitchell, a slave he had likely received as a wedding gift from a Maryland cousin. The story of Charlie’s escape in 1860 on a steamer bound for Victoria and the help he received from free blacks reveals how national issues on the eve of the Civil War were also being played out in the West.

“The recounting of his escape aboard a steamer, capture, and eventual freedom in Canada are captivating, as are the italicized, dramatized scenes,” wrote Publishers Weekly. “(It is) admirable primary-source detective work results in a context-rich story that shines a light on racial attitudes and Civil War politics in pre-statehood Washington.”

Written with young adults in mind, the authors provide the historical context to understand the lives of both Mitchell and Tilton and the time in which the events took place. The biography explores issues of race, slavery, treason, and secession in Washington Territory, making it both a valuable resource for teachers and a fascinating story for readers of all ages.

The program is free and takes place at 7 pm, Friday August 14 at the San Juan island Library. Call the park at 360-378-2240, ext. 2233, or the library at 360-378-2798 for more information.

Lorraine McConaghy – Contributed photo

As a public historian, McConaghy has devoted her professional life to researching and teaching Pacific Northwest history. She has curated a series of successful projects at Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), including the museum’s core exhibits Metropolis 150 and Essential Seattle, as well as Blue vs. Gray: Civil War in the Pacific Northwest. She also teaches at the University of Washington, and her work has been honored by the Washington Museum Association, the Oral History Association, the National Council on Public History and the American Association for State and Local History.

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