On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in Washington, D.C., freeing more than 3,000 people. It was a joyful day in the midst of the Civil War that came after decades of effort ...

For Juneteenth on Morning Edition, professor Nathan Connolly reflects on the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation, and NPR staff voice the document in its entirety. Today, the country observes ...

This booklet was produced in December 1862 specifically for Union soldiers to read and distribute among African Americans. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and ...