A study of 19th century American history or a study of the Civil War would not be complete without including the famous freedom suit of Dred Scott. While Dred Scott may be the most famous of slaves filing a freedom suit, he certainly was not the only one. These suits, which were legal petitions for freedom by people of color, became a common way for slaves to seek to obtain their freedom in the St. Louis area. The bulk of these suits were filed from the 1820s to 1850s. Slaves who had moved with their owners to live in free states often used this event as a basis to seeking their freedom.
Now, as a result of the St. Louis Circuit Court Historical Records Project, the court record of these freedom suits is available to the public. Since September 1999, a variety of institutions and organizations have worked to preserve and make accessible the historical records under the St. Louis Circuit Court Clerk’s control. These documents date from the court's inception in 1804 through 1875. The true value of the court records is found in the depositions—rare primary source oral histories that provide a window into everyday life of that time.
In this program, you and your students will have the chance to go back in time and utilize fascinating primary sources to hear the stories of slaves and owners, lawyers and court officials that made the Gateway City of St. Louis a passage to freedom for many Americans in the first half of the 19th century. What was life like in this American frontier city? How did slaves and owners interact? How did the freedom suits occur? How successful were they? How did they change the lives of all involved? How do they give us a better understanding of the institution of slavery and the organization and ideals of America’s justice system? Ask your questions of archivists and historians involved in the Historical Court Records Project, hear and read passages from the court record, and bring history to life!
Preparatory materials for this program include a 45-minute documentary on freedom suits and the Historical Records Project entitled “Seeking Freedom.” You will receive a DVD copy of the documentary after enrolling for the program.
Helen Headrick
utilization@hectv.org
3655 Olive St
St Louis, MO 63108
United States
Phone: (314) 531-4455
HEC-TV
Free Program
60 Minutes
2/2/10 10-11 or 1-2
2/16/10 10-11 or 1-2
