Emancipation Day

Group portrait of three young African American boys at the Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900, held in "Eastwoods Park" on East 24th Street

African American band at the Emancipation Day Juneteenth Celebration at "East Woods" on East 24th Street, June 19, 1900. Mrs. Grace Stephenson kept a diary on the day's events, which she later sold to the San Francisco Chronicle, which wrote a full-page feature on it.

Older African American man in a white suit and leather gloves, June 19, 1900. He was the "Grand Marshall for over 50 years" at the Emancipation Day Juneteenth celebration

Eight men in suits with ceremonial swords on their hips, June 19, 1900. These were the "officers of the day" at the Emancipation Day Juneteenth celebration. The ceremony was held at East Woods park on East 24th Street. Mrs. Stephensen kept a diary of the day, which she later sold to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900 held in "East Woods" on East 24th Street. Mrs. Grace Murray Stephenson also kept a diary of the day's events which she sold to the San Francisco Chronicle.

African American man standing behind a wagon loaded with watermelons on June 19, 1900. "Typical watermelon salesman." The day's events were held at "East Woods" on East 24th St. Mrs. Stephensen kept a diary of the events, which she later sold to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Barbecuing the meat at the Emancipation Day Celebration on June 19, 1900. The 1900 celebration was held in "East Woods" on East 24th St. near the home of the photographer. This photo and a "story" written by the photographer were printed in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Photographs documenting Eastwoods Park from the Austin Files collection. Eastwoods Park is a shady 9 acre neighborhood park that sits along Waller Creek, just north of the University of Texas. Prior to development as a city park in 1930, the site was referred to as Wheeler’s Grove. The site is historically significant for hosting one of the earliest Juneteenth celebrations in Austin in the latter part of the 19th century. Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that news of President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas. Juneteenth later became a time to celebrate African-American cultural traditions and the annual celebrations continue today in other parks in Austin. In March, 1929, nine acres of land on Waller Creek was purchased for $20,000 for the development of a park and playground. The playground was open by August, 1930, and a pool was opened by 1933. Eastwoods Park is used as a neighborhood park by the Eastwoods neighborhood and students from the University of Texas. The park was the original location of Austin's Eeyore's Birthday Party, an eclectic and uniquely Austin festival started by students at the University of Texas. The event is now held in Pease Park. Eastwoods Park was designed by the landscape architect, Jac Gubbles. Gubbles is well known as the chief landscape architect for the Texas Highway Department (THD) Landscape Division. It was Gubbles who is credited with the early beautification initiatives along Texas highways. Prior to his work with the THD, Gubbles restored the San Jacinto Battlefield to its original 1830s appearance and worked extensively on the Austin as a part of a $750,000 bond program to purchase land for boulevards and parks. Gubbles oversaw the acquisition of land along Shoal Creek, Plum Creek, and Zilker Park.

Photos documenting African Americans at Emancipation Park

Flags and bunting greet the returned soldier at the Emancipation Day Juneteenth Celebration at Eastwoods Park, north of UT Campus, June 19, 1900.

Morris Givens Band and Negro National Guard at Juneteenth Celebration at Wheeler's Grove, June 19, 1900.

Media documenting the Rosewood neighborhood in east Austin from the Austin Files collection