Research Guides: Juneteenth : Library Resources on Juneteenth

Books on Juneteenth and Emancipation

General Gordon Granger (Ebook) by Robert C. Conner
This is the first full-length biography of the Civil War general whose actions, as commander of U.S. troops in Texas, sparked the "Juneteenth" celebrations of slavery's end, which continue to this day. This long-overdue biography sheds fascinating new light on a colorful commander who fought through the Civil War in the West from its first major battles to its last and even left his impact on the Reconstruction beyond.
Illusions of Emancipation (Ebook) by Joseph P. Reidy
As students of the Civil War have long known, emancipation was not merely a product of Lincoln's proclamation or of the Confederate defeat in April 1865. In this sweeping reappraisal of slavery's end during the Civil War era, Joseph P. Reidy employs the lenses of time, space, and the individual's sense of personal and social belonging to understand how participants and witnesses coped with drastic change, its erratic pace, and its unforeseeable consequences.
Juneteenth (Ebook) by Edward T. Cotham
This is the first scholarly book to delve into the history behind Juneteenth. Using decades of research in archives around the nation, this book helps separate myth from reality and tells the story behind the celebration in a way that provides new understanding and appreciation for the event. This book will captivate people interested in the history of emancipation and African American history but also those interested in Civil War and Texas history.
Juneteenth (Print Book) by Ralph Ellison
Written by one of America's great novelists, Ralph Ellison's Juneteenth tells the fictional story of a dying racist senator, shot on the Senate floor by a young Black man, who summons an elderly Black Baptist minister from Oklahoma to his side for a remarkable dialogue that reveals the deeply buried secrets of their shared past and the tragedy that reunites them.
The Long Emancipation (Print Book) by Ira Berlin
Ira Berlin draws upon decades of study to offer a framework for understanding slavery's demise in the United States. Freedom was not achieved in a moment, and emancipation was not an occasion but a near-century-long process—a shifting but persistent struggle that involved thousands of men and women.
On Juneteenth (Print Book) by Annette Gordon-Reed
Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed's On Juneteenth provides a historian's view of the country's long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond...On Juneteenth is both an essential account and a stark reminder that the fight for equality is exigent and ongoing.

Children's Books on Juneteenth

Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the dawn of liberty (Print Book) by Tonya Bolden
Published on the anniversary of when President Abraham Lincoln's order went into effect, this book offers readers a unique look at the events that led to the Emancipation Proclamation. Filled with little-known facts and fascinating details, it includes excerpts from historical sources, archival images, and new research that debunks myths about the Emancipation Proclamation and its causes.
Build a House (Print Book) by Rhiannon Giddens and Monica Mikai
Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens celebrates Black history and culture in her unflinching, uplifting, and gorgeously illustrated picture book debut. Written as a song to commemorate the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth—which was originally performed with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma—and paired here with bold illustrations by painter Monica Mikai, Build a House tells the moving story of a people who would not be moved and the music that sustained them. Steeped in sorrow and joy, resilience and resolve, turmoil and transcendence, this dramatic debut offers a proud view of history and a vital message for readers of all ages.

African-American Studies Databases

African American Communities [Adam Matthew Collection] This link opens in a new window
Non-peer reviewed. Full-text content.
Focusing predominantly on Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and towns and cities in North Carolina, this collection highlights the challenges of racism, discrimination, and integration, as well as African American culture and identity. Includes pamphlets, newspapers, periodicals, correspondence, oral histories, and a rich selection of visual material.
Black Freedom Struggles in the United States [ProQuest] This link opens in a new window
Non-peer reviewed. Full-text content. Open access.
Focuses on Black freedom, critical people and events in African American history, and the pursuit of equality through six periods of history. Features select primary source documents, including historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence, and more.
Race Relations in America [Adam Matthew Collection] This link opens in a new window
Non-peer reviewed. Full-text content.
Highlights responses to the challenges of overcoming prejudice, segregation, and racial tensions. Includes interviews, statistics, educational pamphlets, administrative correspondence, photographs, and more.
Slavery, Abolition, and Social Justice [Adam Matthew Collection] This link opens in a new window
Non-peer reviewed. Full-text content.
Specializes in slavery and abolition studies, including the varieties of slavery, legacy of slavery, social-justice perspectives, and modern slavery. Includes documents and collections from 1490 to 2007.

Library Help

Call: 801.863.8840
Text: 801.290.8123