Emancipation Proclamation Displayed in Clinton Library

The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln 144 years ago, was on display at the Clinton Presidential Library. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 a select group of UAM students and faculty visited to witness it.

Photo by Eric Bell

UAM students walk from the parking lot into the Clinton Library to see the Emancipation Proclamation.

The trip was made to Little Rock using a university bus and van to witness the historic event. The National Archives, which normally only allows the document out for a single day a year, chose to exhibit the Proclamation at the Clinton Presidential Library for four days.

The Proclamation, a Presidential order (not an act of Congress), was issued on Jan. 1, 1863. Empowered by Lincoln’s position as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy under Article II- section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, it was a military action declaring slaves “free people” in the secessionist states.

“I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State … in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom … and will do no act or acts to repress such persons … in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom," the Proclamation reads in part.

Written on the front and back of two sheets and extending onto a third, the Emancipation Proclamation is presented with two of the pages in facsimile. This allows the viewers to see the entirety. The last page shows dark smudges in the upper right corner—all that remains of the Great Seal of the United States.

While the Proclamation did not in fact end slavery, which was accomplished with the 13^th Amendment in 1865, it was a first step down the road for freedom. It also provided the North with a rallying cry; previous to the Proclamation, the only issue at stake was preventing the South from succeeding from the Union. With Lincoln’s actions, the Civil War turned into a battle for freedom as well.

Of course, the fight for freedom for African Americans did not end there, as dramatically displayed by the Library. Moving past the armed security around the dimly lit pages of the Proclamation (while one page has become too fragile to show, the other pages must be exposed to no more than 5 foot-candles of light) the faculty and students next encountered a memorial called “The Long Struggle,” which will continue on display into May.

“The Long Struggle” highlights the actions and influences of presidents on the Civil Rights movement that Lincoln started. Walls filled from floor to ceiling with pictures of blacks from over a century of history stand silent witness to plaques that describe what each president did—or did not—do for the freedom of blacks.

It was a fitting choice to coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine entering Central High. Sounding the death toll for desegregation, nine black students (read about each here) braved angry white mobs to attend their first day of school. At that time, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had to call the military in to protect these students and to uphold the Supreme Court ruling that school segregation was unconstitutional.

“The symbolism is stunning," Gov. Mike Beebe said.

While UAM attendees missed meeting President and Hillary Clinton, who hosted a dinner for the Little Rock Nine Monday night, they continued to browse the rest of the library for a couple of hours.

In other areas of the Library, exhibits highlighting President Clinton’s achievements for America and the world are in sharp contrast to a display discussing the impeachment proceedings he endured.

Daily planners accessible to the public reveal every minute of the President’s official day, which often ran from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Extensive cases hold presidential gifts from around the world; here a pair of cowboy boots with the Presidential Seal, there a set of eggs with caricature faces on each. A beautiful blown glass tree was commented on by several people.

Trey Berry, dean of Social and Behavioral Sciences, made the trip happen with funding from his department, pointed out four pictures of the President and First Lady in front of their Christmas tree. Ironically they were touching in each one, except the year that his indiscretion with Monica Lewinsky came to light.

A reproduction of the Oval Office was roped off for visitors to see, but a reproduction of the Cabinet Room was available to use. Virtual tours of the White House were also accessible in different areas.

Another highlight was letter after letter sent to the Clintons, and replies they gave. John F. Kennedy Jr., Mother Theresa and Tony Danza were among those included. Kennedy, in particular, commented in his letter how much President Clinton reminded him of his father.

When the evening wore on the group reassembled outside the Library, around the waterfalls, to continue on to dinner. Traveling down President Clinton Avenue in the Market District, they were delivered to “The Flying Fish.” There, Berry and UAM treated the students to dinner.

The ride home ended at 11 p.m.