Uncovering the History of Slavery and Antislavery in the Mid-Hudson Valley

Since 2006 the Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project (MHAHP) has brought together researchers, educators, community leaders, and members of the public to:

  • Conduct and synthesize research on the history of slavery and antislavery in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley
  • Interpret and share this history with a wide array of residents and visitors in our region
  • Place this local history in the broader contexts of racial slavery in the New World, the African American experience, and the legacy of slavery today

Throughout the Hudson Valley, the landscape was shaped by New York’s two centuries of slavery. The region made a more concentrated use of enslaved labor than almost any area in the North. But the region also was a center of abolitionist activity that was often led by local Free Blacks. Across the region are places where people of African descent lived, worked, and sought and won their freedom from slavery, served as conductors on the Underground Railroad, and spoke out for freedom and justice.

Today, the legacies of racial slavery continue to haunt us, yet the history of slavery and its opposition is little-known and often hidden. The Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project is dedicated to uncovering this essential part of our past and bringing it into full public view. An important part of our work is to advance the knowledge and understanding of the role of the Underground Railroad in this history,

MHAHP meets regularly. We welcome your participation! If you are interested in attending our meetings, please contact us at info@mhahp.vassarspaces.net.

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News & Views

  • For more on all events, click here.
  • NorSC Conference 2026: Stepping Forward: The Northern Slavery Collective’s third annual conference is taking place on Monday, April 13th from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site in Yonkers, NY. Click here for more information or to purchase an in-person or virtual ticket.
  • #FreedomWalk2026: Walking in the Steps of Our Ancestors: A free webinar on Tuesday, April 14th at 7:00 PM sponsored by the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York featuring Anthony Cohen discussing his upcoming Freedom Walk tracing on of the routes of the Underground Railroad. Click here to register on Zoom.
  • Imagining Courage: John Brown in Art: The John Brown America250 Project is hosting a free virtual roundtable, featuring Louis A. Decaro, Jr., Ph.D. and three special guests, on Monday, April 27th from 7:00-8:30PM, discussing the intersection of 19th-century portraiture and modern archival preservation. Click here to register for the webinar.
  • The Oh, Freedom! Quilting Project is an ongoing project. We are looking volunteers and for organizations interested in creating a community quilt!
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