Learn more about the history of Juneteenth
In 2019, Elkhart residents came together at Canaan Baptist Church on the city’s south side to celebrate freedom. Today, the Juneteenth celebration will be renewed – part of a growing movement across the country to recognize the immensely important event of June 19, 1865.
On that date, the delivery of the official military order freeing slaves in Texas was delivered to the people following the conclusion of the Civil War. Since then, the day has been called Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Cel-Liberation Day. But Juneteenth is the more familiar starting point for researching the event, its importance, and connection to today’s civil rights discussions.
Our librarians have curated these sources of information from our Digital Library and physical collection about Juneteenth. For more information, please call 574-522-5669 or contact us via email.
Digital resources
- Juneteenth Entry | Britannica Online
- Gale encyclopedias containing Juneteenth articles | GVRL
- Up-to-date news articles from around the country with the subject “Juneteenth” | Gale in Context
- Videos of Juneteenth celebrations & news broadcasts from around the country | Gale in Context
- Explora teacher resources & academic journal articles on Juneteenth
- Celebrating Holidays: Juneteenth by Rachel Grack Hoopla eBook
- On My Own Holidays: Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson & Drew Nelson Hoopla eBook
- Holiday Histories: The Story Behind Juneteenth by Jack Reader Hoopla eBook
- Holidays & Heroes: Let’s Celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth by Barbara Derubertis Hoopla eBook
Books for adults
- Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery by Deborah Willis EPL Nonfiction Book
- Juneteenth: a novel by Ralph Ellison EPL Fiction Book
Books for children
- All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson EPL Picture Book
- The History of Juneteenth by Maximilian Smith EPL J Book
- Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper EPL Picture book
