On the heels of a conference celebrating an organizer of the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, the village's National Women's Hall of Fame will induct Martha Coffin Wright on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Organizers of the conference titled “Martha Coffin Wright: Her Friends, and Her Legacy” will air the gathering on Time Warner's public access channel so people understand her role in both the Underground Railroad and the Women's Rights Movement from the comfort of their homes.

The morning and afternoon sessions will be broadcast on Monday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 6.

The August conference, sponsored by the Historic Resource Review Board, was split into two sections. Authors spoke in the morning about the woman and her role in the Underground Railroad.

The panelists met for the second part of the conference to discuss Wright's relationships to other reformers in central New York.

The conference organizers received a $5,000 matching grant from the National Park Services Network to Freedom Program. One major element was the Martha Wright Birthday Celebration, the other to create a brochure.

The travel pamphlet will point out stops on the Underground Railroad in Cayuga County or related sites.

Like many women's rights advocates, Wright supported abolishing slavery and harbored fugitive slaves in her home.

Sen. Hillary Clinton and Rep. Louise M. Slaughter of Rochester are creating another travel guide for a driving tour linking together sites significant to the women's rights movement from Rochester to Syracuse.

“There's lot of interest in history and (this conference) relates to things going on now,” conference organizer Ken Mochel said.

Often overshadowed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, some don't realize the role Wright had as a leader of the women's rights movement and as one of five organizers of the July 1848 convention.

“We feel the history of Central New York and Auburn is right in the center of it and people don't realize that,” Mochel said. “People don't appreciate the history we have here in Auburn.”

Connections of local history and famous figures of the past, such as Thomas Mott Osborne and Eliza, who built a library - the structure still stands on South Street today, he added.

“Our history is not so well known as it should be,” Mochel said.

They want to model the city after Boston and draw people to the area by advertising the historical relevance of what Mochel calls the second revolution, which had women at the forefront fighting for women's rights as well as the abolishment of slavery.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net

For your viewing pleasure

The seminar dedicated to Martha Coffin Wright was cut up into two sections. The first consisted of speeches from authors and descendants talking about Wright's role in the women's rights movement, involvement with the Underground Railroad, and relationship with her family and friends.

The second was panelists from different agencies speaking about Wright's dealings and influence in other prominent human rights pioneers' lives.

The conferences will air at the following time.

What: The first section

When: 5 to 7:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1; and 2 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Where: Public Access Channel 12

What: The second section

When: 7:45 to 10:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1; and 4:45 to 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6

Where: Public Access Channel 12