Let's get a commemorative postage stamp to honor Frank and Lucy McWorter and the town they founded, New Philadelphia, Illinois.

The McWorters are the first African Americans to legally found and plat a U.S. town--in 1836. Frank created his own successful business while he and Lucy were enslaved in Kentucky, and they used their resources to purchase 16 family members out of slavery, starting with Lucy. Moving to Illinois, they founded the integrated town of New Philadelphia, which became a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is now a national park.

The McWorter family, the New Philadelphia Association and the Freedom Corridor launched this stamp campaign. Thank you for signing.

September 19, 2025 Update

With 702 pen and paper signatures and 298 online, we reached 1,000 in just two weeks.  Now we're aiming for 2,500 by February 2027.  We can speak to your group online or FTF to spread the word.  Email katewill@illinois.edu.  Thank you.