Actress to portray Harriet Tubman at lecture series

They called her "General Tubman" and "Moses."

Black abolitionist Harriet Tubman earned those accolades with courage, perseverance and selflessness.

Born into slavery herself, she escaped only to return to the South many times to lead about 300 black Americans to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Like the biblical Moses, she led her people out of bondage.

She also worked with other abolitionists to lead raids that freed hundreds of slaves.

"Because she was successful, she was given the name General Tubman," said Pam Welcome, who will give a first-person portrayal of Tubman at 7 p.m. Sunday at Naper Settlement, 523 W. Webster St., Naperville.

Welcome, a Carol Stream resident who has portrayed Tubman for 20 years, said that what strikes her most about the illiterate former slave is her willingness to sacrifice on behalf of others.

Escaped slaves could face death, but Tubman never lost a passenger on the Underground Railroad.

"They had many bounties out for her," Welcome said.

Tubman's faith in God gave her strength, she said.

"She had a strong religious background," she said. "I think that's how a lot of them were able to get through those horrible times."

Spirituals that Tubman sang or may have sung will be part of the presentation. Slaves sometimes sang simply to make themselves feel better, but they also sang to communicate what they did not want their white masters to know.

For instance, when Tubman planned her escape from slavery, she sang to her sister, "I'm going to the promised land."

Welcome, who is giving programs on the Underground Railroad for middle school students at Naper Settlement through March, said knowledge of Tubman has improved over the years.

"A lot of fourth grades do a whole unit on Harriet Tubman," she said.

In addition to being a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman served as a nurse, scout and sometimes spy for the Union Army during the Civil War.

After the war, she returned to a home she had purchased in Auburn, N.Y. She became involved with the women's rights movement and started a home for elderly and indigent blacks before dying in 1913 at the approximate age of 93.

The portrayal of Tubman is part of Naper Settllement's History Speaks Lecture Series. Museum educator Barbara Rimmer said the series has gained a following and had a good turnout in January for a program on Henry Ford.

"A lot of it is word-of-mouth," she said. "A lot of people come and really enjoy it."

If you go

What:History Speaks Lecture Series: Harriet Tubman

When:7 p.m. Sunday

Where:Century Memorial Chapel at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville

Cost: $6 adults, $5 students and Naperville Heritage Society sustaining members

Info:(630) 420-6010 or napersettlement.museum