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The Still Family

This legacy commemorates "one of South New Jersey's most deeply rooted African-American families" (Courier-Post newspaper). The Still family are descendants of a Guinean prince from Africa and his clan, who intermarried into the Lanape Indian nation, which lived in the area of Lawnside, New Jersey. Recognized as an "American First Family," the Lanape/Still family have been in South New Jersey since the early 1600s.

Lawnside, which has been the hometown of almost a thousand Stills, was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. Family ancestor William Still (1821-1902) worked directly with Harriet Tubman, Thomas Garrett, Frederick Douglass, Lucretia Mott, John Brown, and others to help preserve human dignity. He wrote The Underground Railroad, a book that recounts the heroism of African slaves, and the men and women, whether black or white, Northern or Southern, who risked their lives, fortunes, and personal liberty to help slaves flee from bondage. In recognition of his indefatigable efforts, when Still died The New York Times called him, "The Father of the Underground Railroad."

William Still's brother, James Still, a noted herbalist and caregiver, was also a conductor for the Underground Railroad. Their brother, Peter Still was known as "The Man Who Bought Himself" because he bought his own freedom, then raised $5,000 to free his wife and children from slavery. Each of these brothers left books documenting much of their lives and times in American history.
The names of the composer, William Grant Still, and the football player, Art Still, are familiar to many Americans. Other Still family members have contributed to the greater community as doctors, ministers, writers, scientists, American Indian chiefs, engineers, architects, sculptors, and professors. Noted historian/genealogist, Charles Blockson has said, "Whatever one could look for in a family can be found in the Still/(Lanape) clan, especially to achieve."

The Still family story has been featured on the History Channel, Public Broadcasting Service, cable and local television, and news broadcasts, as well as in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Courier Post, local newspapers and magazines, including the National Geographic.

The well documented family legacy includes a short overview report; several historic books by Still family members; accounts from the National Geographic magazine, the Scholastic Biography book series and other children's publications regarding slavery and the underground railroad, which include Still family members; numerous newspaper clippings; family photographs; family and public documents; and two videos and an audio cassette documenting the family history.

Treat yourself to a piece of history... Happy shopping!