That was how guns were shipped from Boston to Kansas in support of the abolitionist movement before the Civil War began. Six men of the greater Boston area bankrolled the movement to make Kansas a free state ( slave free) and to provide leader John Brown with the money and supplies needed to bring about his plan to create an uprising and free the slaves.
Saturday I attended a program in Framingham Ma. about Julia Ward Howe and the Men of the Secret 6. Julia is most well known for writing the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. A first person account of these men and their connection to Julia was performed by storyteller Libby Franck a Framingham resident. There was an impressive amount of history personalized and brought out in this performance. The execution of her demeanor,costume, language, the dates and correspondences of the time were consistently in the time period and style.
Fundraiser is not a new thing. The Secret 6 raised much of their funds through spirited talks and political connections in the Boston area. This group was well spoken, well travelled , successful in business and life pursuits, and inspired to bring about the change so needed.
Storyteller Libby Franck as Julia Ward Howe www.libbyfranck.com
WHO WERE THE SECRET 6? Here are their pictures I took these at the performance ( sorry a couple a tad out of focus but I had no others)
Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe husband to Julia Ward Howe
Thomas “Wentworth” Higganson
(below) Gerrit Smith
George Luther Stearns – I wanted to learn more about this Stearns!
Performance sponsored By:
Libby Franck www.libbyfranck.com for more information on programs of The Secret 6 and Julia Ward Howe and other topics.
www.framinghamhistory.org Come out to their buildings, events and touch the local history they have preserved for you!