LibGuides: Truxal Library Special Topic Guide: Juneteenth: Freedom Deferred: Home

Juneteenth: Freedom Deferred, June 2024

Welcome to this Truxal Library exhibit in honor of Juneteenth. This new Federal holiday marks June 19, 1865, the day when slaves in Galveston Bay, Texas were finally freed - over two years after the President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. This library exhibit highlights library books, ebooks, and videos about the complex history of emancipation from slavery. Also included are materials highlighting celebration traditions, especially culinary.

In addition to this online guide, a physical exhibit of print books is available on the first floor of the library, near the reference desk. We hope that you will browse and use these materials.

Selected Web Resources

A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2023
President Biden's proclamation about the establishment of this new holiday. Includes a brief history of the events that led to the celebration of June 19th.
Juneteenth: Senses of Freedom
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture's collection of materials to support learning about and celebrating Juneteenth.
DC Emancipation Day
Juneteenth marks one of many emancipation celebrations that developed in the United States. The resource provides the history of Washington, DC's Emancipation Day celebration, which occurs on April 16.
The Birth of Juneteenth; Voices of the Enslaved
Library of Congress history blog entry about the events that led to Juneteenth.
Pew Research: More than half of states will recognize Juneteenth as an official public holiday in 2023
Even though Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, not all states recognize it. This brief report summarizes the rollout of this newest holiday.