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