The School District of Lancaster celebrated a meaningful partnership that strengthens how students learn about our local history. With support from Mid Penn Bank and The Lancaster County Community Foundation, SDoL is expanding classroom learning through a new curriculum developed by Keystone Oral History that centers the stories of the Underground Railroad in Central Pennsylvania.
The Keystone Oral History curriculum brings to life the history of the Underground Railroad in our region during the Civil War era. Through oral histories, primary sources, and community-based research, students learn about the individuals and networks who took extraordinary risks in pursuit of freedom. These lessons move beyond dates and definitions, inviting students to explore courage, resistance, and collective action through stories rooted in Lancaster County and surrounding communities.
By engaging with history as something living and present, students gain a deeper understanding of the choices people made and the systems of care and resistance that formed across communities. They encounter stories that have often existed at the margins of traditional textbooks, yet are essential to understanding both our past and our present. In doing so, students see that history is shaped not only by well-known figures, but by everyday people whose actions carried lasting impact.
This work reflects a broader commitment to equity and inclusion in education. By elevating diverse voices and local narratives, the curriculum supports critical thinking, empathy, and a stronger sense of belonging. It reinforces the idea that students’ own communities are worthy of study and that their voices, too, matter in shaping the future.
We are honored to partner with Mid Penn Bank and The Lancaster County Community Foundation in this effort. Their investment represents more than financial support. It reflects trust in our students, respect for our shared history, and a commitment to ensuring future generations understand the full story of Central Pennsylvania.
Through our partnership with Keystone Oral History, we are preserving the past while inspiring the next generation of learners to engage thoughtfully with their community, recognize the power of individual action, and carry these lessons forward as informed and compassionate citizens.