Collection HighlightsStevens & Smith Center Collections

In Lancaster County, freedom seekers and abolitionists formed vital networks that helped people escape slavery and claim their freedom, making this region a powerful center of resistance.

The actions and activism of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith shaped the ongoing struggle for freedom, democracy, and equality in America. Many of their ideals echo in our world today through the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution.

Thaddeus Stevens used his legal skill and sharp political instincts to gain powerful influence in Congress and help reshape the nation during the Civil War and Reconstruction.

History is shaped by many individuals who leave behind little evidence or are strategically forgotten in mainstream narratives. The Stevens & Smith Center brings to the forefront the life and legacy of often overlooked individuals who shaped this story.

Lancaster’s story is inseparable from the story of the nation. From well-known Lancastrians like President James Buchanan to overlooked heroes like Black abolitionist Stephen Smith, the people and events here helped shape the course of American history.