LibGuides: Juneteenth: Home

Introduction

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual celebration that marks the emancipation of all slaves in the Confederacy. It commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved Texans in Galveston were informed that slavery was over. It was formally recognized as a Texas state holiday in 1979 and as a City of San Antonio and federal holiday in 2021. It was the first new federal holiday recognized since Martin Luther King Day in 1984. Learn more about the history and meaning of Juneteenth by checking out our book recommendations, upcoming local events and exploring other resources listed below.

San Antonio African-American Organizations

Carver Community Cultural Center, 222 N. Hackberry, San Antonio, TX 78202 (210) 207-7211

Juneteenth San Antonio, 6306 Port Royal St., San Antonio, TX 78244 (210) 843-7805

San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM), 218 S. Presa, San Antonio, 78205 (210) 724-3350

Texas State Library and Archives Juneteenth Resources

Texas State Library and Archives Lorenzo de Zavala Building, Capitol Complex, 1201 Brazos St., Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-5474

National Museum of African-American History and Culture

National Museum of African-American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20560

All library locations will be closed on June 19. Enjoy Juneteenth programs all month long.

Recommended Articles

Alamo City Moms: Celebrate Juneteenth
Local contributor, Briana, offers suggestions for families honoring the day for the first time, including several virtual events.
Celebrating Juneteenth
Resources from Teaching Tolerance help explain the history of Juneteenth and how students can be advocates for change.
The Coming of Freedom: Celebrating Juneteenth
Go on a virtual tour of the Slavery and Freedom exhibit of the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Juneteenth: All About the Holidays from PBS LearningMedia
Child-friendly video presentation shares the history of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth: Connecting The Historic To The Now
A panel of scholars explore the origins of Juneteenth discuss the historical and current political significance of the holiday. Panelists: Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb University Professor of History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University; Jelani Cobb, Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia University; and Imani Perry, Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, will moderate.
Juneteenth in a Time of Reckoning
In this article from the Harvard Gazette, members of the Harvard University community share what Juneteenth means to them.
What Is Juneteenth? How to Explain the History of the Holiday to Kids
From Parents.com, teach your family about the annual celebration of emancipation from slavery.
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
The story of Juneteenth is told by Google Arts and Culture using images from multiple sources including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The Meaning of Juneteenth

Jarvis Givens is an Assistant Professor of Education and a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of African and African American Studies at Harvard University.

What is Juneteenth? African-American History Blog

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African-American Research at Harvard University.