Skip to main contentSkip to main content
You are the owner of this article.
Edit Article Add New Article Close
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit Close

71°
- Log In
- Subscribe
Guest- Logout
Read Today's E-edition
Site Search
- AI Answers
- Site Search
-
News
- Local
- Crime
- Nebraska News
- Politics
- Records
- Business
- Nation & World
- Last 24 hours
- Markets & Stocks
- News TIp
-
Opinion
- Submit a letter
- Letters
- Editorial
- Columnists
-
Sports
- Huskers
- High School
- College
- Stars Hockey
- Saltdogs Baseball
- Outdoors
- Professional
- Scores
-
Lifestyles
- Arts & Theatre
- Event Calendar
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Puzzmo
- Puzzles
- Comics
- Contests
- Play
- Food & Cooking
- Parenting
- Health
- Home & Garden
- People
- Pets
- Faith
- Announcements
-
Join the community
- News tip
- Share video
-
Brand Ave. Studios
- Go Find It! Nebraska
-
Print Edition
- E-edition
- E-edition Archives
- Special Sections
-
Buy & Sell
- Place an Ad
- Jobs
- Auto Sales
- Marketplace
- Public Notices
- Shop Local
-
Shopping
-
Customer Service
- Manage Subscription
- Activate Digital Subscription
- Newsletter sign-up
- Subscribe
- Contact us
- Help Center
-
Gift Subscriptions
-
Mobile Apps
- Bluesky
- YouTube
© 2026 Lee Enterprises
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Site Search
- AI Answers
- Site Search



Site Search
- AI Answers
- Site Search
A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.
Subscribe
Read Today's E-edition



Subscribe
-

Welcome, Guest
-
Help Center
-
My Account
-
Profile
-
Logout
-
- E-edition
- News
- Obituaries
- Opinion
- Huskers
- Puzzmo
- Puzzles
- Lifestyles
- Public Notices
- Jobs
- Autos
- 71° Mostly Cloudy
Share This
UNL project illustrates history of slaves suing for their freedom
Share this
A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.
Topical Top Story
UNL project illustrates history of slaves suing for their freedom
- Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star
- May 12, 2019
- May 12, 2019 Updated May 31, 2022
- 0

(From left) William G. Thomas III, professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and project director; Kaci Nash, project manager; Laura Weakly, metadata encoding specialist; Jessica Dussault, programer; Patrick Hoehne, GIS specialist; and Karin Dalziel, designer (not pictured) formed the team that created the digital interactive map for "O Say Can You See; Early Washington D.C., Law and Family," a project tracking freedom petitions by enslaved persons in Washington D.C.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Prefer us on Google Learn More
Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star
A quarter century before Dred Scott’s petition to be free from slavery was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, a decision that further pushed the country toward civil war, a slave named Charlotte Dupuy asked a Washington, D.C. court to free her family from bondage.
kAmw6C @H?6C H2D w6?CJ r=2J[ E96 D:EE:?8 D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6[ 2 7@C>6C DA62<6C @7 E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 2?5 2DA:C:?8 AC6D:56?E:2= 9@A67F=]k^Am
kAmz?@H? H:56=J 2D E96 “vC62E r@>AC@>:D6C[” r=2J H2D ;FDE E96 =2E6DE :? 2 D6C:6D @7 9:89\AC@7:=6[ D=2G69@=5:?8 p>6C:42?D =:G:?8 :? E96 ?2E:@?’D 42A:E2= DF65 3J E96:C D=2G6D 7@C E96:C 7C665@>]k^Am
kAmx? `g`g[ !C:D4:==2 "F66? 7:=65 2 A6E:E:@? 282:?DE #6G] uC2?4:D }62=6[ 2 y6DF:E AC:6DE 2?5 7FEFC6 AC6D:56?E @7 v6@C86E@H? r@==686] |2E:=52 s6CC:4< DF65 D=2G69@=56C v6@C86 |2D@?[ 2 8C2?5D@? @7 E96 C6G@=FE:@?2CJ[ :? `gaa[ 2?5 :? `gag[ %9@>2D qFE=6C A6E:E:@?65 2 4@FCE 282:?DE v23C:6= sFG2==[ 2? 2DD@4:2E6 ;FDE:46 @? E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE]k^Am
People are also reading…
- Jury finds insurance company acted in bad faith, awards Nebraska woman $11.3M
- Megan Conway reports the news. Now the Lincoln TV anchor has a story of her own.
- LPS students have voted. Here are mock election results.
- Family, fraternity rally around UNL grad who collapsed at KC marathon
- Lincoln police turn over Pillen no-bid contract investigation to AG's office
- How to watch Harper Murray's homecoming, Huskers vs. Michigan
- Who should be Liberty First Athlete of the Week? Cast your vote!
- Just: After this loss, something needs to change at Nebraska — there's no time to spare
- How to watch Huskers vs. Spartans today. Will they keep on rolling?
- History gets a lift: William Jennings Bryan house will soon be on the move
- Railyard security guard charged after alleged assault following Nebraska-Oregon game
- Teen's new attorneys in Lincoln murder case argue prosecutors should be disqualified
- Ex-director of Nebraska Liquor Control Commission pleads guilty to federal charges
- Ex-store manager sentenced for taking $300K winning scratch-off ticket
- Nebraska volleyball sets record, rallies past Michigan as Murray shines at home; Brent Wagner's 3 takes
kAm%96C6 2C6 9F?5C65D @7 :?DE2?46D @7 D=2G6D DF:?8 D=2G69@=56CD :? E96 (2D9:?8E@? 4@FCE DJDE6> 2=@?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (:==:2> v] %9@>2D xxx[ 2 AC@76DD@C @7 9:DE@CJ 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=? H9@ C6D62C496D 2?5 HC:E6D 23@FE 7C665@> DF:ED]k^Am
kAm“$=2G6CJ H2D 492==6?865 :? 4@FCE 3J 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 2=>@DE 7C@> s2J ` @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? `fgh[” %9@>2D D2:5] “%96 =68:E:>24J @7 D=2G6CJ :D C62==J 7C2>65 3J H9:E6 D=2G69@=56CD 2C@F?5 E96 =2H E92E :E’D =682==J =68:E:>2E6] %96D6 D9@H FD 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 D2:5 ‘}@[ :E’D ?@E]’”k^Am
kAm&}{’D r6?E6C 7@C s:8:E2= #6D62C49 :? E96 wF>2?:E:6D 92G6 4@>A:=65 2?5 5:8:E:K65 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 7C@> >@C6 E92? d__ 7C665@> DF:ED 2?5 AF3=:D965 E96> :? 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^62C=JH2D9:?8E@?54]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm@?=:?6 52E232D6k^2m E:E=65 “~ $2J r2? *@F $66i t2C=J (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ {2H 2?5 u2>:=J[” E9C@F89 2 8C2?E 3J E96 }2E:@?2= t?5@H>6?E 7@C E96 wF>2?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64E 7@4FD6D @? D=2G6CJ :? E96 `ga_D 2?5 `gb_D[ D2:5 AC@;64E >2?286C z24: }2D9[ H96? p7C:42?\p>6C:42?D H6C6 96=5 2D AC@A6CEJ 3J 2 H:56 DEC2E2 @7 (2D9:?8E@? D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm“p =@E @7 E96 86?6C2= G:6H @7 D=2G6CJ :D A=2?E2E:@?D 2?5 E96 28C:4F=EFC2= G:6H @7 6?D=2G6>6?E[ 3FE E9:D :D D=2G6CJ :? 2? FC32? 6?G:C@?>6?E[” }2D9 D2:5] “(6’G6 7@F?5 DF:ED 7C@> D=2G6D @7 4=6C:42= H@C<6CD[ 2 A2DE@C @7 2 !C6D3JE6C:2? 49FC49 — D=2G69@=56CD E92E J@F >:89E ?@E ?@C>2==J E9:?< @7]”k^Am
This map shows the population of white people (green dots) and black people (blue dots) in Washington D.C. in 1822. UNL’s Center for Digital Research in the Humanities have compiled and digitized court documents from more than 500 freedom suits and published them in an online database titled “O Say Can You See: Early Washington, D.C., Law and Family,” through a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
COURTESY IMAGE
kAm%9@FD2?5D @7 4@FCE C64@C5D 82E96C65 7C@> 2 H62=E9 @7 D@FC46D 2=D@ 4@>A=:42E6 E96 9:DE@C:6D @7 D@>6 2=C625J H6==\<?@H? p>6C:42?D]k^Am
kAmuC2?4:D $4@EE z6J[ H9@ A6??65 E96 “$E2C\$A2?8=65 q2??6C” 5FC:?8 E96 (2C @7 `g`a[ :D “2 >2;@C 7:8FC6” :? E96 &}{ AC@;64E 7@C 9:D H@C< C6AC6D6?E:?8 >@C6 E92? `__ 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 :? 4@FCE :? E96 `ga_D[ :?4=F5:?8 "F66? :? 96C =2HDF:E 282:?DE }62=6]k^Am
kAmx?:E:2==J @AA@D65 E@ 9F>2? 3@?5286[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 368:? E@ D9@H z6J’D EC2?D7@C>2E:@? :?E@ 2 5676?56C @7 D=2G6CJ[ %9@>2D D2:5i “w6 6G6?EF2==J E2<6D 2 G6CJ C24:DE A@D:E:@? :? H9:49 96 36=:6G6D 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 H9@ 364@>6 7C66 D9@F=5 ?@E 92G6 E96:C 7C665@>]”k^Am
kAmsFAFJ[ H9@ 6G6?EF2==J =@DE 96C 42D6 282:?DE r=2J[ H2D ;2:=65 7@C C67FD:?8 E@ C6EFC? E@ z6?EF4<J[ 2 >62DFC6 r=2J 2AAC@G65 @7 244@C5:?8 E@ =6EE6CD AF3=:D965 2D A2CE @7 E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm{2E6C[ r=2J 8C2?E65 sFAFJ 2?5 96C 49:=5C6? 2 5665 @7 >2?F>:DD:@?[ 2? 24E:@? 9:DE@C:2?D 92G6 86?6C2==J 2D4C:365 E@ 9:D 86?6C@D:EJ 2?5 G:D:@? E92E E96 :?DE:EFE:@? @7 D=2G6CJ H@F=5 6G6?EF2==J 6?5[ 3FE E96 @G6C2C49:?8 C64@C5 D9@HD D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 6?E:C6=J[ %9@>2D D2:5]k^Am
kAm“w:D 8:G:?8 sFAFJ 96C 6>2?4:A2E:@? H2D 8CF58:?8[ :E H2D FEE6C=J E96 =2DE E9:?8 96 C62==J H2?E65 E@ 5@[” 96 D2:5] {:<6 D@ >2?J @E96C D=2G6D[ sFAFJ 5:5 ?@E H:? :? 4@FCE[ 3FE 96C 677@CED 282:?DE r=2J 25565 E@ E96 >@F?E:?8 AC6DDFC6 36:?8 76=E 282:?DE D=2G69@=56CD]Qk^Am
kAm%C2?D4C:365 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 2=D@ :==FDEC2E6 E96 2H2C6?6DD D=2G6D 925 23@FE E96 =682= AC@4665:?8D @7 @E96C D=2G6D[ D2:5 {2FC2 (62<=J[ 2 >6E252E2 6?4@5:?8 DA64:2=:DE H9@ 2=D@ H@C<65 @? E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“xE’D C62==J 4@>A6==:?8 H96? J@F E9:?< 23@FE 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6 2?5 H92E E96J 925 E@ 8@ E9C@F89[ E92E E96J H6C6 2H2C6 @7 H92E H2D 8@:?8 @? 2C@F?5 E96> 2?5 9@H E@ FD6 E96 =2HD[ 9@H E@ FD6 46CE2:? 2C8F>6?ED E@ >2<6 E96:C @H? 42D6D[” (62<=J 25565]k^Am
kAm&}{’D AC@;64E 92D 2:>65 E@ D9@H 9@H A6CG2D:G6 E96 :?DE:EFE:@? @7 D=2G6CJ H2D 5FC:?8 E96 62C=J C6AF3=:4[ 6G6? 2>@?8 7C66 H9:E6D H9@ ?6G6C @H?65 2 D=2G6[ 3FE D6CG65 2D 2EE@C?6JD[ ;F586D[ H:E?6DD6D @C ;FC@CD 5FC:?8 E96 =2HDF:ED]k^Am
kAmt249 :?5:G:5F2= ?2>6 AC6D6?E :? E96 5:8:E:K65 5@4F>6?ED 92D 366? 2DD:8?65 2 F?:BF6 :56?E:7:6C[ 2==@H:?8 5:8:E2= 56D:8?6CD 2?5 AC@8C2>>6CD =:<6 z2C:? s2=K:6=[ y6DD:42 sFDD2F=E[ y6C6>:29 q2F6C 2?5 2 4@>A2?J @7 C6D62C49 2DD:DE2?ED E@ 492CE C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2?5 4C62E6 2 D62C4923=6 42E2=@8F6[ 3C@256?:?8 E96 F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 ;FDE 9@H 72C\C6249:?8 E96 7C665@> DF:ED DEC6E4965]k^Am
kAm$@>6 7:8FC6D :? E96 5@4F>6?ED H6C6 2=C625J 8:G6? 2 D:8?:7:6C 3J E96 {:3C2CJ @7 r@?8C6DD — H6==\<?@H? 9:DE@C:42= 7:8FC6D =:<6 r=2J[ |2D@? 2?5 sFG2==[ 7@C 6I2>A=6 — 3FE E96 &}{ E62> 9@A6D E92E 3J E288:?8 D=2G6D[ 7C66 3=24<D 2?5 @E96CD 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 7C665@> =2HDF:ED H:E9 2? xs H:== >2<6 E96> >@C6 G:D:3=6 7@C C6D62C496CD :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmrC@DD\C676C6?4:?8 ?2>6D 7C@> E96 4@FCE C64@C5D H:E9 ?2>6D >256 2G2:=23=6 :? 4:EJ 5:C64E@C:6D 2?5 @E96C D@FC46D 2==@H65 &}{’D r6?E6C 7@C s:8:E2= #6D62C49 :? E96 wF>2?:E:6D E62> E@ 3F:=5 2 7:CDE\@7\:ED\<:?5 :?E6C24E:G6 >2A @7 (2D9:?8E@?[ A=24:?8 6249 @7 E9@D6 ?2>6D 2E 2? 255C6DD]k^Am
kAm%96 >2A H6?E =:G6 @? E96 “~ $2J r2? *@F $66” H63D:E6 :? |2C49]k^Am
kAm!2EC:4< w@69?6[ 2 86@8C2A9:4 :?7@C>2E:@? DJDE6> DA64:2=:DE[ D2:5 E96 >2A AC@G:56D FD6CD 2 “=:G:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E @7 E96 4:EJ[” D9@H:?8 D=2G6D =:G:?8 :? 2== BF2CE6CD @7 (2D9:?8E@?[ 8:G:?8 FD6CD D@>6 :?D:89E :?E@ 9@H C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2?5 86@8C2A9J >2J 92G6 A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? E96 =682= 492==6?86D :DDF65 3J D=2G6D]k^Am
kAm“$=2G6CJ :D?’E 2? :D@=2E65 E9:?8[ :E’D :? 6G6CJ A2CE @7 E96 4:EJ — E96 }2GJ *2C5 2?5 24C@DD 7C@> E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 — 2?5 J@F 92G6 E96D6 C6G6C36C2E:@?D @7 E9:D =682= 24E:@?D E2<6? 3J 6?D=2G65 A6@A=6[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D ?@E 2? F?<?@H? 724E@C]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D=2G6CJ :D 86?6C2==J E9@F89E @7 :? 23DEC24E E6C>D[ @C 2D 2? :?DE:EFE:@? E92E ;FDE 92AA6?65 E@ 2 >2DD @7 A6@A=6 7@C 2 E:>6 :? &]$] 9:DE@CJ[ %9@>2D D2:5[ E96 “~ $2J r2? *@F $66” AC@;64E :D 96=A:?8 C6567:?6 E96 9:DE@CJ 2D @?6 @7 :?5:G:5F2=D 2?5 72>:=:6D]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< p>6C:42?D ?665 E@ 368:? E9:?<:?8 23@FE D=2G6CJ :? 72>:=J E6C>D[ 2D E96 6?D=2G6>6?E @7 A2CE:4F=2C 72>:=:6D[” 96 D2:5] “%92E’D H92E E9:D AC@;64E C62==J 2:>D E@ 5@[ E@ 9:89=:89E E96 A2CE:4F=2C:EJ @7 E96 72>:=J 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 E@ AFE ?6H 72>:=:6D :?E@ p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ]”k^Am
kAmp 76H J62CD 28@[ p>2C: y24<D@?[ 2 ;@FC?2=:DE[ HC:E6C 2?5 C6D62C496C 7C@> pE=2?E2[ 3682? EC24:?8 E96 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 `__\24C6 72C> E92E 92D 366? :? 9:D 72>:=J D:?46 `h_e[ 2D H6== 2D 9:D 72>:=J =:?6286]k^Am
kAmqFE 96 9:E 2 C@253=@4< D6G6C2= 86?6C2E:@?D 324< @? 9:D 72E96C’D D:56[ F?23=6 E@ =@42E6 >F49 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 $9@CE6C 72>:=J F?E:= 96 7@F?5 2 =:DE:?8 @7 E96 >@C6 E92? b_ 7C665@> =2HDF:ED E96 6?D=2G65 $9@CE6C 72>:=J 7:=65 2D 5@4F>6?E65 :? E96 &}{ AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm“x 5:5?’E 6IA64E :E[” y24<D@? D2:5 :? 2 A9@?6 :?E6CG:6H] “x 5:5?’E <?@H 23@FE E96 7C665@> DF:ED[ 2?5 5:5?’E C62=:K6 E96J H6C6 2D AC@=:7:4 2D E96J H6C6 :? E96 `fh_D 2?5 =2E6C]”k^Am
kAmxE 96=A65 y24<D@? 2?5 9:D C6=2E:G6D A:646 E@86E96C 2 H9@=6 ?6H A2CE @7 E96:C @H? 9:DE@C:6Di “xE’D =:<6 2DD6>3=:?8 2 3C@<6? >:CC@C] *@F’C6 A:64:?8 E@86E96C J@FCD6=7 2?5 J@FC @H? 9:DE@CJ]”k^Am
kAmp?5 7C@> 2 3:886C DE2?5A@:?E[ :E 96=AD 7:== :? E96 DE@CJ @7 C246 :? p>6C:42[ 96 25565] xE’D ?@E 2=H2JD 2 <:?5 DE@CJ[ G6CJ ?F2?465 2?5 72C 7C@> =:?62C]k^Am
kAm“|J 72>:=J 567:?:E6=J DA62<D E@ E92E[ 3@E9 E@ E96 EC2865J 2?5 C:49?6DD @7 p7C:42?\p>6C:42?D[ E96 492==6?86D 2?5 @3DE24=6D 2?5 6G6? E96 EC:F>A9D H6 6?5FC65[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS.
Love
0
Funny
1
Wow
1
Sad
0
Angry
0
Want to see more like this?
Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up!
* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star
Higher education/statehouse reporter
Follow Chris Dunker | Lincoln Journal Star
Close
Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!
Your notification has been saved.
There was a problem saving your notification.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Save
Close
Followed notifications
Please log in to use this feature
Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Related to this story
Nebraska Extension outlines 'coordinated, long-term' flood response efforts
The average recovery from a flood the size and scale of the historic event affecting areas of Nebraska extends a little more than nine years, …
NU announces annual faculty awards
Four professors at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln were honored for their work this week as part of the university system's annual awards g…
Virtual Incision keeps building, learning at new Innovation Campus home
A mosaic of framed photos depicting great American innovators and explorers -- the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, Nikola Tesla -- are a cons…
Yeutter Institute class finds trade talks are more difficult than they appear
The sticking points became clear after the first hour of tense agricultural trade talks at the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trad…
Repeal of Nebraska slavery amendment advances in Legislature
Nebraska is one step closer to repealing a state constitutional amendment that allows people to be enslaved as punishment for a crime.
Born to slave parents, Lincoln woman becomes nationally known for paintings, artwork
The stranger in the dining room had come to ask about her family.
Cindy Lange-Kubick: Ruth Cox Adams, beloved adopted sister of Frederick Douglass, at rest in Lincoln
The newspaper story called her an “old colored lady.”
Slavery lessons vital, LPS says, despite complaint that nixed display at Mickle
Mickle Middle School eighth-graders spent two weeks working on a project about the middle passage, designing memorials to honor those who endu…
Rural health pipeline programs look to re-tool amid big policy, demographic shifts
A comprehensive study of the state’s health care workforce in 2009 showed more than half of Nebraska’s 93 counties were without primary care p…
Nebraska City agrees to settle former clerk's lawsuit over lost job
Nebraska City's former clerk has reached a $325,000 settlement with the city over a lawsuit alleging the City Council had damaged his reputati…
LPS teachers learning how to help their students harvest their community's history
The grand narrative of history taught in Lincoln Public Schools classrooms — the one marked by famous letters and iconic speeches, by influent…
Bible underscores Lincoln's belief he was to end slavery
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A Bible given to Abraham Lincoln in the final months of the Civil War ties together the 16th president's budding view…
Crowdfunded grant will help UNL researcher study sex-related condition
Hundreds of millions of dollars slated for research flow into the University of Nebraska-Lincoln each year from federal agencies like the Nati…
Senators debate adding Holocaust, slavery to Nebraska education standards
The chair of the Education Committee called Sen. Ernie Chambers' addition of slavery divisive, even racist toward white Americans, and encoura…
Most Nebraskans voted to abolish slavery as criminal punishment. But 32% voted to keep it
Who would vote against ending slavery as a way to punish crimes? About 274,000 Nebraskans just did, including majorities in 26 rural counties.
UNL faculty-produced film explores a slave family's quest for freedom
"The Bell Affair," a new film by three University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty members, explores slaves Daniel and Mary Bell's long fight for f…
Watch Now: Related Video
France: Student Protests Resume With School Blockades Across Country 2.
Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers In Michigan Senate Race
Democrat Haley Stevens Endorses Republican Mike Rogers In Michigan Senate Race
How elections since 2016 may predict US midterm results
How elections since 2016 may predict US midterm results
Watch Centura clinch its spot in Lincoln
Watch Centura clinch its spot in Lincoln
Close

(From left) William G. Thomas III, professor of history at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and project director; Kaci Nash, project manager; Laura Weakly, metadata encoding specialist; Jessica Dussault, programer; Patrick Hoehne, GIS specialist; and Karin Dalziel, designer (not pictured) formed the team that created the digital interactive map for "O Say Can You See; Early Washington D.C., Law and Family," a project tracking freedom petitions by enslaved persons in Washington D.C.
- GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
This map shows the population of white people (green dots) and black people (blue dots) in Washington D.C. in 1822. UNL’s Center for Digital Research in the Humanities have compiled and digitized court documents from more than 500 freedom suits and published them in an online database titled “O Say Can You See: Early Washington, D.C., Law and Family,” through a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
- COURTESY IMAGE
×

- Bluesky
- YouTube
Prefer us on Google Learn More
Sites & Partners
- The Columbus Telegram
- The Fremont Tribune
- The Beatrice Daily Sun
- Place an ad
- Event Calendar
- Online Features
- Work here
- Inspire Lincoln
Services
- Subscriber Services
- Advertise with us
- E-edition
- RSS
- Newsletters
- Contact us
- Become a Carrier
- Services
- Licensing
- Shopping
© Copyright 2026 The Lincoln Journal Star, PO Box 81609 Lincoln, NE 68501
A Lee Enterprises, Incorporated newspaper. Majority shareholder: David Hoffmann, Hoffmann Media Group.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Privacy Choices | Cookie Preferences
Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.
{{title}}
{{summary}}
- Notifications
- Settings
You don't have any notifications.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Topics
News Alerts
Subscribe
Breaking News
Subscribe
Husker News
Subscribe
Back ×
Offer
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Get StartedManage Service
Cancel anytime
You are logged in
Secure transaction. Cancel anytime. Have an account? Log In
Back ×
Sign Up
Account processing issue - the email address may already exist
User information
Username (Optional)
This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely!
* First name
* Last name
* Email Address
Your email address will be used to confirm your account. We won't share it with anyone else.
* Password
Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).
Create a password that only you will remember. If you forget it, you'll be able to recover it using your email address.
* Confirm Password
Confirm your password.
CAPTCHA
Create Account
or
Sign up with
Facebook Google
Have an account? Log In
×
You're all set!
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
OK
Back ×
Log In
Invalid password or account does not exist
Email Address
Password
Remember me
Log In
or
Sign in with
Facebook Google
Admin login Subscribe
Need an account? Sign Up
Back ×
Reset Password
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
Email or Screen Name
CAPTCHA
Reset Password
×
Forgot Password
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
Back ×
Email me a log in link
Account Email
CAPTCHA
Send Email
Back ×
Promotional Offers
Promo code
Enter Promo Code
Redeem
No promotional rates found.
Back ×
Purchase Gift Purchase Access
See More Offers
details close
×
An error occurred
×
Secure & Encrypted
Sign in with
Email Address
Continue with Email Address
or
Continue with Facebook Continue with Google
What's your email address?
Password
Confirm password
Must be at least 8 characters, not contain repeating characters (e.g., 111), and not contain sequential numbers (e.g., 123).
What's your name?
First name
Last name
Who is this gift for?
Recipient name
Recipient email
Optional message for the recipient
Who is this gift from?
Purchaser name
Purchaser email
Purchaser zip code
Delivery date
Delivery date
What's your billing location?
Address
City
State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada
Zip Code
Country United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe
What's your delivery address?
Copy billing location
Address
City
State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada
Zip code
Country
United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe
Phone
Purchase detail
Subtotal:
Total:
How would you like to pay?
Ending in
Add New Card
Terms of service confirmation
I Agree to the Subscription Terms of Use.
This service will be automatically renewed and your credit card billed once it nears expiration.
Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.
×
You're all set!
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
Rate: Begins: Transaction ID:
A receipt was sent to your email.
OK
×
An error occurred
This offer is currently unavailable.
Close
Search AI Answers