The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries will host its second annual Juneteenth commemorative program, “The Legal Fight for Freedom: Student Research,” featuring students from Katrina Jagodinsky’s summer research course.

The event is 2-4 p.m. June 19 in the auditorium of Love Library South (Room 102).

Jagodinsky and Will Thomas will provide remarks, with a reception following the program. RSVP to attend here.

The students, who have come from colleges and universities around the United States, are part of a cohort in the Digital Legal Research Lab and have been studying and encoding legal cases of freedom petitions from Maryland, Missouri and Nebraska. They will share the stories of the people and situations involved in each case as a part of their research. Discussion will also focus on the importance of building research models that bring these types of stories into a broader conversation about American history.

Charlene Maxey-Harris, associate dean of libraries of collections and resource management, expressed that the importance of the commemorative program to the University Libraries is to provide a venue to uncover stories and research of freedom and justice.

“Juneteenth is significant because it reminds us that slavery was a way of life that was the foundation of our nation’s success,” she said. “It is our truth and reality today to commemorate and celebrate the end of slavery and also recognize the similarities of other people’s journey to freedom. Slavery tore our nation apart and the struggle continues as we reveal those silenced and missing histories today.”

This event is sponsored by the University Libraries. Learn more about the University Libraries’ commitment to anti-racism efforts.