HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Underground Railroad was one of the most
 1-2     significant expressions of the African American quest for freedom
 1-3     and equality, a courageous and resolute struggle that has spanned
 1-4     more than three centuries; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The significance of the Underground Railroad has
 1-6     been recognized by the U.S. Congress, which in 1998 passed an act
 1-7     directing the National Park Service to establish the National
 1-8     Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, to commemorate
 1-9     both those who used this network and those who helped them; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Between 1820 and 1865, some 5,000 enslaved people in
1-11     Texas escaped to Mexico; although most would have needed help in
1-12     making their way, the existence of an Underground Railroad in the
1-13     state has never been documented; since 1998, Naomi Carrier Grundy
1-14     and Allen Grundy, retired Houston educators, have been working to
1-15     substantiate the existence of such a network; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Toward this end, the Grundys have organized two
1-17     forums to explore evidence of the Texas Underground Railroad; in
1-18     addition, the Grundys' theater company includes in its repertoire
1-19     of Texas history programs an educational performance devoted to
1-20     this covert undertaking; and
1-21           WHEREAS, It is highly desirable that a study be conducted of
1-22     any activity that helped persons enslaved in Texas escape to
1-23     Mexico; such a study would add a significant new dimension to our
1-24     understanding of Texas history, and it would constitute a first,
 2-1     indispensable step in opening a new area for heritage tourism; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, An intensive research effort would make it possible
 2-3     to identify routes that could become part of an African American
 2-4     Heritage Corridor from Texas to Mexico; moreover, it would help to
 2-5     identify and document sites and structures that are eligible for
 2-6     inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and eligible
 2-7     for inclusion in the National Underground Railroad Network to
 2-8     Freedom program; information collected could also serve as the
 2-9     basis for educational material; and
2-10           WHEREAS, Recovering the history of the Underground Railroad
2-11     in Texas would lead to a more comprehensive, nuanced account of our
2-12     past, and would further illuminate the complex society that gave
2-13     rise to this multi-ethnic resistance movement; now, therefore, be
2-14     it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-16     hereby recognize Naomi Carrier Grundy and Allen Grundy for their
2-17     outstanding efforts to document the Texas Underground Railroad and
2-18     extend to them sincere best wishes for success in this worthy
2-19     endeavor; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That the Texas Historical Commission and the Parks
2-21     and Wildlife Department be respectfully encouraged to support
2-22     research on the Texas Underground Railroad; and, be it further
2-23           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
2-24     copy of this resolution to the Texas Historical Commission and the
2-25     Parks and Wildlife Department.
                                                                    Thompson
                                                                      Chavez
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 245 was adopted by the House on May
         5, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 245 was adopted by the Senate on
         May 22, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor