With a new mural, Philly finally gets public art dedicated to abolitionist William Still

Born in Burlington County, New Jersey, to parents who escaped from slavery, Still became a successful businessman and author without much formal education. He was in his 20s when he moved to Philadelphia, married Letitia George, and became involved with the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery. From 1850 to 1855, the Stills lived in a home on Delhi Street with their children, Caroline Virginia and William Wilberforce. It sheltered others, too. The Still house was a way station on the Underground Railroad that helped hundreds of people. At great personal risk, Still kept a written record of the people he aided. Years later, he recorded his experiences in a book, The Underground Railroad (1872). The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center describes Still’s book as “one of the most important historical records we have.”

Still here

The mural William Still and Family features Still and his eldest child, Dr. Caroline Still Anderson, who became Philadelphia’s first Black licensed physician and one of America’s first Black women doctors. The design was created in collaboration with Still’s descendants, focusing on the family members for whom photographs exist. Artist Ernel Martínez painted William Still and Family directly on the wall of the historic house, facing Bainbridge Street and Palumbo Recreation Center (just north of the Italian Market).

The mural is part of Legacy Reclaimed, the tribute to Philadelphia’s 7th Ward, an important hub of Black community, culture, and activism during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Legacy Reclaimed describes the 7th Ward as a thriving community of more than 15,000 Black residents, a neighborhood shaped by the Underground Railroad, the Great Migration, and activists including Still, Octavius V. Catto, and W.E.B. Du Bois. Tayyib Smith of Little Giant Creative is the project partner of William Still and Family, and he lives in the neighborhood. I do too, and a neighbor doing renovations found newspaper from the 1860s insulating the walls. The top story reported local police killing a Black man. Violence and inequality continue to keep brotherly love out of reach, but the Still family made gains in the battle for justice. The mural offers an inspiring reminder of their courage, resilience, and strength.

Fighting for themselves and others

“William Still was an amazing person during his time,” said Samuel C. Still III. He is the second great-grandnephew of Dr. James Still, brother of William Still, and an inspiration to his daughter Caroline. Sam Still is executive director of the Dr. James Still Historic Site and Education Center in Medford, NJ. Growing up in New Jersey, he hung out on South Street without realizing his ancestor’s house was a block away. Today, he is glad the mural will honor William Still’s contributions to equity and justice. From desegregating the trolley car to speaking up to the police, “the things he was involved with were just amazing,” Sam Still told me. “People like me need to know that; that he had something to do with the development of the city of Philadelphia.”

The mural will help make Still’s impact visible. Smith pointed out that there are smaller images of William Still around the city, but William Still and Family will be the first public artwork dedicated to him. Writing of his work in the Underground Railroad, Still stated that it was his good fortune to help people fleeing enslavement. The sentiment resonates with Sam Still, who said of his ancestors, “They didn’t just fight for their freedom, they were fighting for other people’s freedom.” The mural is a reminder of that, and it uplifts Black history, activism, and excellence in a neighborhood transformed by gentrification.

Locals can join the official dedication of the mural on August 1, 2025 at 3pm at 625 Delhi Street, Philadelphia. The event is free and open to the public.