By: News Bureau
Join College of DuPage Associate Professor of History John Paris for “Never Pursued: J.F. Glidden and the Underground Railroad” at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 in the Health and Science Center (HSC) Room 1234 on COD’s Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.
The presentation, held in honor of former COD History Professor Carter D. Carroll, is free and open to the public. Paris will explore the significant role DeKalb County played in the Underground Railroad, highlighting the actions of J.F. Glidden, inventor of barbed wire and DeKalb County sheriff during the network’s most active period. Despite federal and state laws mandating the capture of those aiding freedom seekers, Glidden adopted a policy of non-pursuit, allowing DeKalb County to remain a key hub for abolitionist efforts in the 1850s.
Following the presentation, a private ceremony will honor COD History student Joseph Hilp, recipient of the 2025 Carter D. Carroll Excellence in History Award. Established in 1994, the award recognizes outstanding academic writing in the field of history. COD history instructors nominate student papers of exceptional quality that have received “A” grades.
Paris has taught history at COD since 1996, developing courses and programs focused on the Underground Railroad in Illinois. In 2022, he led the field studies course “Kayaking the African Heritage Trail,” exploring key Underground Railroad sites along the Little Calumet River. He also co-hosted academic presentations with Underground Railroad scholars in 2016 and 2023. Paris currently serves as a docent at the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center in DeKalb, where he resides.