Here’s a sliver of what you can learn at two exhibits at the Law Library.
- The largest military base in St. Louis during the Civil War was Benton Barracks in what is now Fairgrounds Park.
- There were slave pens in downtown St. Louis at the site of the current Ballpark Village.
- The Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to enslaved persons in Missouri.
These are just a few of the surprising facts that can be learned by viewing the Slavery in St. Louis exhibit in the Law Library this month. The Law Library is hosting two different but related exhibits.
The Slavery in St. Louis exhibit explores the growth of slavery in St. Louis in the context of the politics, economics, and history of the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. This exhibit uses primary sources, historical artifacts, and individual accounts of enslaved persons to illustrate the history of slavery in St. Louis. This exhibit was curated by the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. This exhibit will only be at the Law Library through October 1, 2024.
The Freedom Suits exhibit shows original, rarely-seen court pleadings of three different types of claims made by enslaved people seeking their freedom. The exhibit also will include explanatory panels about:
(1) Freedom suits in general – what were they and how did they work in the context of slavery in Missouri
(2) Freedom suits in St. Louis – highlights some of the freedom suits in St. Louis within the context of slavery in St. Louis
(3) Freedom suits in other parts of Missouri – highlights 20+ freedom suits from other parts of the state
The Freedom Suits exhibit will be displayed through December 3, 2024.
To learn more about both of these exhibits, please go to our library’s web page at https://llastl.org/slavery-freedom-suits