Notes here are focused primarily on early celebrations of Juneteenth in Houston. Initially drawn from newspaper searches, but for more see Elizabeth Hayes Turner chapters in Lone Star Pasts and Lone Star Unionism, Dissent, and Resistance.

Turner reports the murder of a Black cook attached to one of the troops that arrived in Houston the morning after the first Juneteenth.¹

1866

Reported in Telegraph, with follow-up.

According to WPA Files at HRRC, the Evening Star for June 20, 1866, carried an article on the “Freedmen’s Celebration.” It gave the location as “a beautiful grove of trees near Mr. Lockhearts [sic]” which may be the spot adjacent to Lubbock's Grove. They reached it by marching from the “colored Methodist church” on Travis Street down Main, and then “on through Congress to its terminus” before heading to the grove. Elias Dibble, Sandy Parker, and Richard (John?) Sessums served as the officers of the day.²

Within the week prior to the Juneteenth celebration, there had also been a brazenly pro-Confederate procession of Houston fire companies through the streets, with no American flags and a girl on the fire truck representing the South in manacles.³

A later report noted that it had been “stated in the city column of the Star the other day that Mr. Stuart [Henry W. Stuart], the late principal of the colored school of this city, got up the barbecue for the negroes on the occasion of their late celebration, and made a pretty speculation of it. We are informed on the best authority that this statement is not correct—that the thing was altogether in hands of the negroes.”⁴

1867

Registration happening across the state this June, and Republican State Convention in Houston on July 4. Registration began in Houston on June 12.⁵

A report about a Columbus celebration, complete with a procession of around 1,000 and ending at a grove for a barbecue, held on June 22, states that it was celebrated in Houston on June 19:

… after inquiring why different days were appointed, I was informed that they do not select the actual day upon which their freedom was achieved (the surrender of the army), but the day on which they first heard the fact.⁶

Also a procession in Huntsville that began “near the penitentiary” and ended with an assembly of more than 3500.⁷

1868

No mention found in Daily Telegraph or Weekly Telegraph reels for June 1868.

It may be because of a narrowly avoided “riot” in the city that month: “Today being the anniversary of emancipation, some fears are entertained that its associations may stir up the negroes. … The loyal leagues of Houston are said to hold meetings every night.”⁸

In Galveston, the day was reportedly marked by “a procession consisting of seventeen freedmen, including two musicians beating drums” and “some officers of the league. But the great mass of enfranchised failed to make demonstration of their appreciation of the anniversary.”⁹

The Millican Massacre of 1868 occurred a few weeks later.

1869

From Houston Daily Union, May 21, 1869 (AHN):

EMANCIPATION DAY.—The colored people of Harris county will celebrate Emancipation Day (Saturday, the 19th of June,) at Lockhart’s grove [Lubbock's Grove], in this city. Speakers, preachers and teachers of colored schools throughout the country are requested to give notice of this fact on all occasions.

From Houston Union, June 16, 1869 (AHN):

EMANCIPATION DAY.—Next Saturday will be the anniversary of the freedom of the slaves of this continent, and from what we can learn, the day will be generally celebrated throughout Texas. In this city the colored people propose to have a pic-nic and torch light procession, public speaking, etc. The blacks in Texas celebrate the day of their deliverance, but the whites do not. We are of the opinion that there is not a Democrat in Texas that can tell what day of the month the 4th of July comes on.

A later article named Richard Allen as the Grand Marshal, Sandy Parker as the Grand President, Milton A. Baker as the chairman, and listed the order of procession, which included the “Draymens’ Association,” the “Mount Zion Association,” and others, and gave the route of the march as “to Main street, thence down Main to Commerce, thence to Fannin, thence to Preston, thence to Travis street, and from Travis street to the grounds selected, west of the Methodist church,” which seems like it would be a different location from Lubbock’s Grove.¹⁰

According to the Houston Times, the “Radical” convention also met in Houston in June (beginning on the 7th? 8th?) with Richard Allen, Jack Ruby, E. M. Davis, Batchelder, and other leading figures in attendance. On the evening of June 17, there was a mass meeting in Market Square, with speeches by A. J. Hamilton, and others, on the election and constitution, while the “radicals” held their own meeting at the courthouse, attended (according to the Times) by “six white men, half of whom, we are satisfied, were there from pure curiosity; some eighty negro women and about one hundred and fifty negro men.”¹¹ Other meetings that took place in Houston in the third week of June: Press Association, Medical Association, Dental Association, and Grand Masonic Bodies meeting.

The Daily Telegraph reported on the emancipation anniversary:

The colored population celebrated, yesterday, the anniversary of the emancipation proclamation. At an early hour the societies on horseback, headed by their Marshals with music, marched up Main street to a grove in the suburbs to partake of a barbecue. The procession was not large, but the sidewalks were full of men, women and children on their way to participate in the day’s festivities. We hope it was to them a day of unalloyed pleasure. We were not on the grounds and have no means of reporting what was done there, but we learn that there were speeches made and that the tables were filled with good things, and all enjoyed themselves. The party returned in the evening after the day’s enjoyment and marched up Main street in procession very quietly. It gives us pleasure to say that on this occasion the colored population behaved themselves with marked decorum.¹²

The Times also reported on the celebration of Juneteenth:

THE COLORED CELEBRATION yesterday was quite a considerable affair. Not less than 1000 persons were on the grounds. There was eating, drinking and dancing, and political speech-making. The renowned Dr. R. K. Smith was one of the speakers. He got off some of his best jokes, if we may judge from the hearty laughter in which he indulged when he made a point—in his own estimation. The renowned Doctor reminded us very much of a “Punch and Judy Show”—his fun was so funny to those who liked that sort of thing. The ecstatic Doctor spread his arms after the fashion of the distinguished American Eagle, and soared aloft into the realms of absurdity. The Doctor made an ass of himself—a most palpable and ridiculous ass—but was, seemingly, oblivious of the fact. He was followed by the celebrated Bachelder [sic]. Bachelder had just been drinking some Jersey cider and was, therefore, not exactly himself. Bachelder, as usual, went for the great American gridiron, and busted himself from wing to wing in endeavoring to unite the eastern and western continents. We left when Bachelder subsided, and therefore we are unable to give the wind up.¹³

The same issue contains a letter from the organizers:

HOUSTON, June 19th, 1869.

We, the undersigned, do hereby tender our sincere thanks to the white citizens of Houston for their liberal donations to the freedmen of Houston to assist them in celebrating the anniversary of the order enforcing President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Gen. Gordon Granger, commanding the Federal forces in the district of Texas, on this day, four years ago.

Richard Allen, Grand Marshal; Sandy Parker, President; Milton Baker, Chairman Com. of Arrangements.¹⁴

The letter appeared also in the Houston Union, with the order of signatures slightly different.¹⁵ The Union reported that:

The celebration of the 19th in the city by the colored people, passed off agreeably to all concerned. Fully 3000 people, men, women and children, participated in the festivities of the occasion. Perfect order and decorum prevailed. An abundance of eatables and drinkables were provided for all, and more than twelve baskets full of fragments left. John Keppard, a colored man of more than ordinary intelligence, delivered the oration. Speaking by several persons, white and black, singing, dancing and riding for prizes, made the occasion long to be remember [sic] by our colored population.

1870

A parade from Commerce and up Main, “with drum and colors and a Marshal, who marched at the head with a drawn sword,” ended up at “the grounds near the Gregory Institute.”¹⁶

According to an excerpt in the WPA Files, the Daily Telegraph of June 22, 1870, described the destination of the march as Hangman’s Grove.

Also reported in Houston Daily Union, June 18, 1870.¹⁷

1871

According to the WPA Files, summarizing an article in the Daily Telegraph, from May 17, 1871: “The Fair of the colored people at the courthouse was a success. The proceeds are to be for a colored brass brand.”

A large advertisement about the “Fifth Anniversary” celebration “Lasting Two Days—June 19th and 20th” appeared in the Houston Union, with Sandy Parker listed as president and the location given as “the Fair Grounds.” A baseball game was staged on the second day: “White people are respectfully invited to attend, and we will show them that they will be well treated.”¹⁸ A follow-up report on “Emancipation Day” appeared on June 20.¹⁹ A speech given at the event by W. T. Clark was printed on June 21.²⁰

See also the Houston correspondent’s report in Galveston Daily News:

The colored people were out, some three hundred strong, this (Monday) morning, marching to the music of an excellent brass brand, with banners and flags freely displayed. The different societies were fully represented, each one bearing a banner or flag upon which the motto of the order was inscribed. The procession marched to the grounds—a grove near the State Fair grounds—where the exercises are to take place. The train from Galveston added some two hundred to the large crowd at the grounds.²¹

On Thursday, June 22, 1871, the Houston Telegraph (weekly) reported that trade had been brisk in the city due not only to out-of-towners arriving for meetings of Masons and medical doctors, but also “on account of the colored anniversary of the 19th, which brought many hundreds of the colored from the country, who did no inconsiderable amount of trading, especially on Tuesday.”²²

A front page editorial on the same day refers cryptically to a speech the year before to Black Texans by Governor Edmund J. Davis in which Davis:

unmistakably made known to this race that he was opposed to their celebrating the 19th of June in Texas, at all, and that he then advocated the right and propriety of the colored race celebrating only the National holidays.

Who can blame them for celebrating the day of their deliverance in Texas?

The colored people of Texas have a right to rejoice on the 19th day of June of each year, because on that day their freedom was proclaimed in this State, and they should remember that Davis, the head and front of the Radicals in Texas, opposed it one year ago. They are coming to the light, and when they see it plainly, it will be the doom of the Radical tricksters of Texas.²³

The support the Telegraph appears to give here to the celebration is clearly politicized and intended to appeal for (unlikely) Black votes for Democrats. It’s evidence of a paternalistic “faithful slave” myth that echoes the Telegraph’s first comments on Juneteenth in 1866.²⁴

The same critique of Davis is reprised in the June 29, 1871, issue. Conversely, in 1870, the Austin Daily State Journal warned that a separate holiday for freedmen was a Democratic ruse: “They are no longer Africans or slaves, but Americans, and our great holiday is also theirs. Freedmen, beware of Democratic snares, and let no one rob you of your share in the American Fourth of July.”²⁵

1872

Couldn’t find anything in the June 20 Weekly Telegraph. But there was notice of a giant German Volksfest meeting in Lubbock’s Grove.

According to WPA Files at HHRC, the Daily Telegraph for June 20 says:

… Yesterday, to the colored, people [sic] was an interesting day in Houston, and indeed to the freedmen throughout the State. It was the seventh anniversary of the liberation of the slaves. … The freedmen’s procession formed yesterday on colored Methodist Church Square. … the freedmen marched down Travis to Commerce and thence up Main street. In the procession was a colored brass band in uniform. … Singing constituted not an unimportant feature of the proceedings; numerous patriotic songs having been sung by good voices.

1874

The Houston column of the Galveston News reported on:

THE COLORED ANNIVERSARY.—Friday evening’s trains brought a fresh addition to the crowd of colored folks in attendance upon their anniversary of freedom. There could not have been less than 1500 or 2000 in attendance from the country alone, and the sable multitude visible at the colored grounds in the southern part of the city since Friday noon, must have numbered at least 2500 or 3000. The proceedings, doings and pleasures of the anniversary were renewed yesterday.²⁶

Similar proceedings that year in Galveston at Schmidt’s and Wurzlow’s Gardens.

According to the WPA Files, the Daily Telegraph reported that the “ninth anniversary of the emancipation proclamation had been celebrated by the Negroes of Harris County on June 19, 1874, at their grounds opposite the State Fair Grounds in Houston. Organizations from adjoining counties had participated in the parades and other festivities.” It also points to the Houston Daily Age for June 20, 1874.

1875

The arrival of the Galveston Brass Brand presages the coming anniversary.

Houston Age reports that “the freedmen have taken pattern after the State fair and added a preparation day to the June festival. Tomorrow is to be the Grant day thereof.”²⁷

See also the Age report for June 19:

At ten o’clock to-day a procession consisting of Dibble, president of the celebration, the various colored clubs, the colored base ballists, followed by numerous negroes from the country on horseback, and accompanied by the colored band, marched through Main street out to the freedmen’s grounds.²⁸

Compare the Galveston News report, which locates the “freedmen’s grounds two miles west of the city,” and says that the “Narrow Gauge, or Texas Western construction train, transported a multitude of negroes out to the celebration grounds, west of the city.” Maps of this railroad on the 1884 and 1891 city maps indicate that the ground being referred to is likely Emancipation Park.²⁹

1886

Procession in Houston, with floats including one labeled “Sing the Song of Freedom” and another labeled “Freedom and Equality to All,” ends at Emancipation Park.³⁰