The Rees-Jones Library of the American West at Southern Methodist University in Dallas recently acquired three broadsides promoting Juneteenth celebrations in Corpus Christi, Texas, during the late nineteenth century.
The historic posters from 1884, 1892, and 1898 came from a recently discovered scrapbook focused on the life of William Leonard, a Black business owner, journalist, and community leader in Corpus Christi. Leonard was president of the Corpus Christi Progressive Union, which was “organized for the intellectual up-building of the race.”
Prior to the discovery of these materials, the earliest known broadside commemorating Juneteenth was dated 1903.
