Preserving the Law of Freedom: Exploring Legal Collections About Juneteenth
- Michelle Trumbo
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, declaring that all enslaved people were free. It was a delayed, but life-altering, announcement for more than 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Texas. That moment became the foundation of Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
As Juneteenth has grown from a community celebration to a recognized federal holiday, legal scholars, historians, and archivists have worked to preserve and share the legal documents that make up this story.
Below are some of the collections and archives that preserve Juneteenth’s legal and historical record. Each offers a unique window into how the law has shaped, recorded, and responded to Black freedom.
The Original Juneteenth Order
At the heart of Juneteenth is a single, transformative document: General Order No. 3. Issued by Union Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, it reads in part:
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
This order put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation in the last Confederate state where it had yet to be enforced. Today, the original handwritten document is preserved by the National Archives, which has made it available online for public viewing.
Juneteenth Becomes Law
In June 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday. The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was passed by Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President Biden on June 17, 2021. It became Public Law 117–17.
Each year, the Library of Congress highlights significant anniversaries and historical milestones. Its “Today in History” feature for June 19 not only explains the origins of Juneteenth but connects it to broader historical currents in U.S. legal and social history, including the Emancipation Proclamation and Reconstruction.
The Law Library of Congress has compiled a legislative history of the holiday’s creation, including bill texts, floor statements, and related documents. This collection reveals the evolving recognition of Juneteenth in federal law and its symbolic importance in modern civil rights discourse.
Research Guides on Juneteenth and Emancipation
Several law libraries and public institutions have created research guides that curate key primary sources, case law, legislation, and scholarly commentary related to Juneteenth and emancipation.
University of San Diego School of Law: Offers a Juneteenth guide with links to legislative history, primary documents, and recommended readings.
Hawai‘i State Law Library: Provides an overview of Juneteenth with links to resources and public education tools.
These guides are particularly useful for educators, students, and legal researchers seeking entry points into more specialized legal databases and collections.
Ultimately, legal history is not only about statutes and court opinions. Instead, it is about the lived consequences of the law. The story of Juneteenth reminds us that emancipation did not arrive all at once or with equal clarity across the United States. Documents like General Order No. 3, legal archives of slavery and abolition, and the modern laws recognizing Juneteenth help us piece together a legal history that is often fragmented, contested, and unfinished.
Preserving these records and making them widely accessible ensures that the story of freedom is not lost. These collections honor the truth of what happened, while also supporting education, advocacy, and reflection on the law’s potential for justice. The more we preserve, the more we remember, and the better equipped we are to move forward.
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