1-1 By: Thompson (Senate Sponsor - West) H.C.R. No. 245 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001; 1-3 May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural 1-4 Resources; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-5 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, The Underground Railroad was one of the most 1-8 significant expressions of the African American quest for freedom 1-9 and equality, a courageous and resolute struggle that has spanned 1-10 more than three centuries; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The significance of the Underground Railroad has 1-12 been recognized by the U.S. Congress, which in 1998 passed an act 1-13 directing the National Park Service to establish the National 1-14 Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, to commemorate 1-15 both those who used this network and those who helped them; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Between 1820 and 1865, some 5,000 enslaved people in 1-17 Texas escaped to Mexico; although most would have needed help in 1-18 making their way, the existence of an Underground Railroad in the 1-19 state has never been documented; since 1998, Naomi Carrier Grundy 1-20 and Allen Grundy, retired Houston educators, have been working to 1-21 substantiate the existence of such a network; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Toward this end, the Grundys have organized two 1-23 forums to explore evidence of the Texas Underground Railroad; in 1-24 addition, the Grundys' theater company includes in its repertoire 1-25 of Texas history programs an educational performance devoted to 1-26 this covert undertaking; and 1-27 WHEREAS, It is highly desirable that a study be conducted of 1-28 any activity that helped persons enslaved in Texas escape to 1-29 Mexico; such a study would add a significant new dimension to our 1-30 understanding of Texas history, and it would constitute a first, 1-31 indispensable step in opening a new area for heritage tourism; and 1-32 WHEREAS, An intensive research effort would make it possible 1-33 to identify routes that could become part of an African American 1-34 Heritage Corridor from Texas to Mexico; moreover, it would help to 1-35 identify and document sites and structures that are eligible for 1-36 inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places and eligible 1-37 for inclusion in the National Underground Railroad Network to 1-38 Freedom program; information collected could also serve as the 1-39 basis for educational material; and 1-40 WHEREAS, Recovering the history of the Underground Railroad 1-41 in Texas would lead to a more comprehensive, nuanced account of our 1-42 past, and would further illuminate the complex society that gave 1-43 rise to this multi-ethnic resistance movement; now, therefore, be 1-44 it 1-45 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-46 hereby recognize Naomi Carrier Grundy and Allen Grundy for their 1-47 outstanding efforts to document the Texas Underground Railroad and 1-48 extend to them sincere best wishes for success in this worthy 1-49 endeavor; and, be it further 1-50 RESOLVED, That the Texas Historical Commission and the Parks 1-51 and Wildlife Department be respectfully encouraged to support 1-52 research on the Texas Underground Railroad; and, be it further 1-53 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 1-54 copy of this resolution to the Texas Historical Commission and the 1-55 Parks and Wildlife Department. 1-56 * * * * *