On Saturday, June 19, 1865, in Limestone County, Texas, plantation owner Logan Stroud stood on the front porch of this house to tell more than 150 of his enslaved workers that they were free.
Photo from @librarycongress collection. blogs.loc.gov/teachers/2020/… #Juneteenth2023
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Billy McCrea who was enslaved remembered the Union troops coming into Texas in 1865 and being told that he was free. blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2016/… #Juneteenth2023

For the first we rolled out this 54 foot long petition from 1865. It was signed by 3,740 African Americans from South Carolina asking Congress “equal rights before the law" months after the Civil War.
We need the public's help transcribing this historic treasure.
🧵 We are launching a nationwide crowdsourcing campaign through the Library’s By the People program. These names may have originated in SC but its reach runs broader and deeper.
We owe it to these 3,740 people that they be recognized, remembered and their stories told.

Absolutely fun conversation with Mo Willems and @The_Pigeon. Mo is like a conductor of the arts bringing his genius, artistry, wit, and love of children to his books. #KenCenReach @kencen “Children are the future but WE are the present.” - Mo Willems @The_Pigeon #KenCenReach