Juneteenth

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 is participating in the festivities with a focus on storytelling. Join us to tell your story about celebrating freedom in West Linn, or what makes West Linn a special place for you and your family. The stories will be recorded, 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.

The Alliance has arranged a temporary recording studio just across the street from the main festivities at the Willamette Garage. We are accepting reservations, and walk-in sessions will be possible if recording slots are open.

Date/Time: June 17, 2023 / 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Recording Booth Location: Lower level at 1609 Willamette Falls Dr.

Recording Session Length: 15 min

Reservations: Email West Linn Alliance (westlinnalliance@gmail.com) – Please provide: Name, Contact Information, Preferred Time Slot, Language, and Any Special Accommodations.

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.) Link to Release Form