Our Vision
Our objective is to give you, the people, a sense that you have been heard, and to stimulate the next generation. We are proud to share our heritage with other people in a community-type unity. In November of 1993, I opened the museum to the public and became the curator of the Underground Railroad Museum. We will strengthen our network of understanding which, in turn, will stimulate our youth. We have an extensive collection of publications, books, memorabilia and other articles on display at the Underground Railroad Museum, at 206 High Street in Flushing, Ohio. We want to share our knowledge of the Underground Railroad and the thousands of slaves that escaped the brutal effects of slavery in the South. We want to preserve and support our culture and community by contributing to a better quality of life in the 21 st century. For groups wishing to bring a little bit of history into their classroom, we have a traveling trunk. We find other organizations that have a need to learn, used this program as an excellent resource. The traveling trunk is like a mini-museum containing a variety of hands-on objects. The museum offers Underground Railroad tours in connection to the Ohio Valley. Other facts regarding the Underground Railroad Museum and its purpose as a foundation is to fund the museum and to furnish scholarships for local students, to be operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, as may be designated by a majority of the Board of Trustees; to accept, hold administer, invest and disburse such funds as may, from time to time be given to it by any person, persons, or corporations.
Curator's Biography
John S. Mattox is the Curator of the Underground Railroad Museum Foundation, Inc. Mr. Mattox is married to Rosalind L. Mattox and has 2 children (John Jr. and Suzanne) and 4 grandchildren (James Jr, Courtney, Hillarie and Camille). Mr. Mattox attended Houston Tillitson College in Austin, Texas and majored in sociology and psychology. Mr. Mattox served in the United States Air Force form 1959 to 1965. Mr. Mattox has been active in numerous community organizations including: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. President of Special Wish Foundation, Inc., Upper Ohio Valley Wheeling Chapter. Chairman of the National Board of Governor's Special Wish Foundation in Columbus, Ohio. President of the Board of Directors for Harrison Community Hospital, Inc. in Cadiz, Ohio. Member of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, Lodge 298 in Flushing, Ohio. Ohio University Eastern Campus's Regional Coordinating Counsel board member. Co-Chairman of the African American Cultural Committee at Ohio University Eastern. Historian of the Friends of Freedom Society in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio Museum Society and the Ohio Historical Society. Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable. Flushing, Ohio Senior Citizen Advisory Board. Belmont County Correctional Institution Community Board. Ohio Valley Christian Soldiers. YWCA Racial Justice Advisory Council. Former President of the Ruritan Club in Flushing, Ohio. Commander of the American Legion Post 366 V.F.W 7342. Member of the NAACP in the Ohio Valley. Member of the District chapter of the American Red Cross and the United Way of the Ohio Valley. Coordinator for the Sunshine Youth Services in Belmont County. Member of the Youth Services Advisory Board Juvenile Court in Belmont County. Member of the Sargus Juvenile Center Board of Directors. Former member of the J.V.S Board of Education. Former member of the Board of Directors, Belco Crafts. Former member of the Board of Education, Union Local Schools.
