Cornell University Hosts Groundbreaking Freedom on the Move Symposium

On March 15 and 16, Cornell University welcomed scholars, librarians, archivists, and educators from across the country for the Freedom on the Move Symposium, a landmark event highlighting new directions in the study of fugitivity and self-liberation. Anchored by the Freedom on the Move database—the largest digital archive of runaway slave advertisements in North America—the symposium featured pre-circulated papers and dynamic discussions that advanced scholarship on resistance, maroonage, and racialized surveillance.

The two-day gathering underscored the importance of collaborative research and digital innovation in uncovering the stories of enslaved people who risked everything to seek freedom. By bringing together leading and emerging voices in the field, the symposium not only expanded historical understanding but also reinforced the role of digital humanities in shaping public memory and education.