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