Celebrating Our Stories
Freedom came to Texas on June 19, 1865, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. On that day, Union Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order 3, declaring formerly enslaved people as free men and women. This day has come to be known as Juneteenth and is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It became a national holiday in 2021 and an Oregon State Holiday in 2022.
The City of West Linn is holding its 2023 Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 17, in Old Willamette, and the West Linn Alliance (WLA) is participating in the festivities with a focus on storytelling. The WLA has teamed up with the West Linn Public Library and the Oregon Historical Society to record the stories of residents of all backgrounds and beliefs as a way of preserving our collective heritage for future generations. Topics to talk about, as an individual or in conversation with a family member or friend, may be focused on an understanding of the Juneteenth holiday – or on people, places, and events in West Linn that have been special in some way. Stories will be recorded by a professional audiographer, with one copy going to you and a second copy permanently filed in the Local History Collection at the West Linn Public Library for public access. Only 12 recording slots are available, so reservations are recommended.
Date/Time: June 17, 11:00am-3:00pm
Recording Booth Location: Lower level at 1609 Willamette Falls Drive
Recording Sessions: Recordings will take place 11:00 AM-2:40 PM in 20-minute sessions. Walk-in sessions on a first come, first served basis may be possible if recording slots are still available.
Reservations: Email westlinnalliance@gmail.com by June 14 at 7:00 PM with participant name(s), email address(es), and phone number(s); proposed conservation topic; preferred time; preferred language (English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Mandarin); and whether there is a need to accommodate someone with physical limitations. Confirmation of a time slot will be sent in advance of the event.
Release Form: The archiving of your story by the West Linn Library requires a release form giving your permission for the recording to be available for public access. Release Form; 合法發佈; Thông Báo Pháp Lý; Liberación legal
This project is supported by the Oregon Historical Society
This project is supported by Willamette Thrive – Flexible Co-working & Meeting Space