© Jeanine Michna-Bales, Front and Back of Signed Underground Railroad Pledge that has a code and the signature of J. Pearce. Indiana Historical Society, M1099 from the photographic essay “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002 – 2016

Beyond the Photograph is a Lenscratch monthly series dedicated to helping photographers grow their artistic practices beyond the camera. Capturing images is just one small part of a photographer’s journey. In this series, we’ll explore the tools, strategies, and best practices that support the broader aspects of a contemporary art career.

In-depth research is a vital component of long-term photographic essays and an essential part of my artistic practice. It provides the foundation for each series—shaping how the images are captured and, often, determining the title of the work.

For the series Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad (Princeton Architectural Press, 2017), I spent 14 years from 2002 – 2016 on research. The project began while I was writing my daily pages—reflecting on the world and my place in it as an artist. It felt as though the project chose me, continually resurfacing in my thoughts and writing. I found myself returning to the question: What would it look like to escape enslavement in the Deep South and journey north in search of safety and, ultimately, freedom?

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, books from my personal library from the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002-2016

I began reading extensively—starting with contemporary works like Bound for Canaan by Fergus M. Bordewich and period texts such as William H. Siebert’s The Underground Railroad. Over the 14 years, I built a substantial library on the subject. My goal was to understand the history of slavery in the United States and how its legacy continues to shape our society. Its shadow still lingers in many forms: the modern prison industrial complex, racial profiling by police, redlining and real estate zoning, disparities in generational wealth, gerrymandering—and the list continues.

I began the research process in the early 2000s, just as the United States Congress Freedom Trails initiative started releasing research and prior to the opening of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time, I was able to identify a few sites, but mapping out a complete route proved to be a daunting challenge. My work on the project was often sporadic—I’d dig in, hit a dead end, grow frustrated, and set it aside. Yet the idea kept resurfacing in my daily pages, pulling me back in and restarting the cycle all over again.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, binders holding newspaper clippings and other research materials organized by location for the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002 – 2016

In 2009, while visiting family back home, I stopped by the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis and began digging through books and records on the Underground Railroad at the Lilly Research Library. A librarian brought out a clippings folder she had started compiling years earlier—every time she encountered a reference to the Underground Railroad, she photocopied it and added it to the folder. Over time, it had grown into an incredible resource, which I stumbled upon by chance. It contained newspaper clippings from the 19th century to the present, title pages from both historical and contemporary books, and more. I spent several hours with the material and barely scratched the surface. I had photocopies made and brought them back to San Francisco, where I began sorting, flagging, cross-referencing, and learning from them.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, Underground Railroad research papers from the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad” 2002 – 2016

From there, I was gradually able to piece together a route to document. Whenever I hit a dead end, either a new piece of research would surface or someone would unexpectedly appear with the information I needed. One night around 12:30 a.m., while photographing in the Georgetown District of Madison, Indiana, a woman happened to be out walking her dog—an unusual time, she admitted. Curious about what I was doing, she stopped to talk. As it turned out, she was part of a committee working to erect a monument honoring Georgetown’s Underground Railroad Station Masters, including George DeBaptiste. Later, she connected me with an academic who was writing his master’s thesis on the Underground Railroad in Indiana.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, marked-up maps showing possible locations to photograph for the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad” 2002 – 2016

The images were taken approximately every 20 miles, based on research indicating that fleeing enslaved people often traveled that distance each night when possible. Did someone escaping slavery follow this exact route? I can’t say for certain. But I ensured that the locations and stations I included were active during the same historical period. Whenever possible, I relied on direct documentation linking individuals to specific sites. Some locations were based on oral histories—passed down through families or communities—and I chose to include them, recognizing that many station masters and those who assisted chose not to leave records out of fear of retribution. In many cases, I later uncovered documentation that confirmed these stories. As of now, only two images in the series remain without written evidence—though even that may yet be revealed.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, research on the Magnolia Plantation for the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad” 2002 – 2016. Image is a survey from the 1850s. Courtesy of the LeComte/Hertzog Family and the Cane River National Heritage Area.

I sifted through the bibliographies of various books, which led me to even more sources. I visited historic sites, asked questions of park rangers, and reviewed the research they had gathered.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, historical society and history magazines about the Underground Railroad from the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad” 2002 – 2016

I visited local towns and stopped into antique malls, historical societies, city and county offices asking if anyone knew about local Underground Railroad history.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, books from my personal library from the project “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002-2016

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, Epigraph Source: Sarah Bradford, Harriet, the Moses of Her People (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2012), pgs. 17-18 from the photographic essay “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002 – 2016

I read first-person narratives written by formerly enslaved individuals, seeking to understand their lived experiences and to add their own words directly into the series through various quotes. I also researched the laws enacted by various states that codified and upheld the institution of slavery—examining how legal systems were used to control, punish, and dehumanize Black people across different regions and time periods.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, A Brief Respite. Abolitionist William Beard’s house, Union County, Indiana, 2014 an image from the photo series “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad” 2002 – 2016

When I began photographing the series in 2012 and 2013, I had mapped out parts of the route, but significant sections still remained missing, leaving gaps that connected those areas. In 2014, the series received a CENTER Choice Award, and four of my images were displayed alongside other award-winning works in Santa Fe. While I was there, the woman whose work was displayed next to mine had her uncle visit to see her photos. He inquired about my work and, in the conversation, mentioned that his ancestor had been a station master on the Underground Railroad. To my amazement, he revealed that his ancestor was William Beard, and he even provided the address of his house. This was the major station I had been searching for years to find.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, Page from the Neel’s Creek Anti-Slavery Society, which formed in Jefferson County, Indiana, on January 5, 1839, with the object of “the entire abolition of slavery in the United States.” Among the Society’s members were local Underground Railroad conductors Samuel H. Tibbets and Reverend Thomas Hicklin. Rare Books and Manuscripts Department, Indiana State Library. From the photographic essay “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002 – 2016

I combed through the archives at the Library of Congress, as well as state, county, and historical society libraries, searching for primary source materials. Initially, I focused only on information that directly related to the path I was documenting. However, I kept encountering references to the Henry County Female Anti-Slavery Society of Indiana, even though that county was too far west of the route I was researching. Despite the distance, it continued to show up in my searches, so I decided to pull their minutes book and carefully read through the entries. I found an entry that mentioned the group was collecting “donations to buy 127 yards of free-labor cotton to sew garments—vests, coats, pants, dresses, shirts, and socks.” Two-thirds of these garments were directed to Salem, Union County, to the care of William Beard.

© Jeanine Michna-Bales, Left Side: Union Literary Institute Constitution from the Board of Managers’ Secretary Book. BV1972_016-018, Indiana Historical Society. Right Side: Approaching the Seminary, Near Spartanburg, Indiana, 2014 an image from the photographic essay “Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad,” 2002 – 2016

During my photographic trips, I would scout the location during the day and return at night to capture the image. At each site that felt right, I would hear a cardinal songbird and often see one as well. This happened so frequently that my family and others who accompanied me on the field shoots began to notice and comment on it. Over time, it became a sign for me that the location should be included in the series.

The research process can be daunting, challenging, and often feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. Perseverance is essential, and a touch of serendipity doesn’t hurt either. From experience, if something keeps reappearing, it’s worth exploring—it’s a sign there’s a connection waiting to be uncovered. Ultimately, as an artist, the goal is to release a body of work into the world. My hope is that the works we create spark conversations, shape the dialogue around important topics, and perhaps even offer people a new perspective.

The project website, ThroughDarknesstoLight.com, features detailed information about the research, including primary source documents and educational resources such as an extensive bibliography, glossary, timeline, lesson plans, writing prompts, and discussion topics. The series is a traveling exhibition in partnership with ExhibitsUSA, a division of the Mid-America Arts Alliance. It launched in February 2017 and has since been extended through 2032.

I still believe the project chose me and as I type this there is a Cardinal singing in the tree right behind me.

Jeanine Michna-Bales

After a successful 20-year career as a creative in advertising, Jeanine Michna-Bales transitioned to become a full-time artist. A visual storyteller working primarily in photography, Michna-Bales (American, b. 1971) explores the profound impact of cornerstone relationships on contemporary society—the connections between individuals, communities, and the land we inhabit. Her work sits at the crossroads of curiosity and knowledge, blending documentary and fine art, past and present, and disciplines like anthropology, sociology, environmentalism, and activism.

Michna-Bales’ artistic practice is rooted in thorough, often primary-source research, which allows her to explore multiple perspectives, grasp the complexities of cause and effect, and understand the socio-political context surrounding the subjects she examines.

Website

Instagram

Linktree