Kammen, Carol and Norma Prendergast. Encyclopedia of Local History. AltaMira Press Walnut Creek, CA 2000. REF E180.K25 2000
This small encyclopedia gives a good general definition of what the Underground Railroad was. It also gives an answer as to why people have renewed interest in it in the late 20th century. It gives some references to further reading and exploration.
Faragher, John Mack, general ed. The American Heritage Encyclopedia of American History. New York: Henry Holt and Company 1998.
REF E174.A535 1998
This Underground Railroad entry gives a concise definition of the term. It makes reference to the two greatest figures in the Railroad system. It also has some see also references and one bibliography title for further research.
Finkelman, Paul, editor-in-chief. Encyclopedia of the United States in the Nineteenth Century. 3 vols. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
REF E169.1.E626 2001
The index gives many places in the volumes where the Railroad is discussed, as a term by itself and with others including Canada, free Blacks, New Hampshire, Ohio, and runaway slaves. Since this is an encyclopedia of the U.S. history, the places where it is discussed are within that broader context of history. Since the Underground Railroad took place within the broader context of slavery, the term by itself is discussed there. There is a good bibliography at the end of this entry.
