www.thedredscottfoundation.org The Dred Scott Honor and Remembrance PAST, IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING GOALS OF THE FOUNDATION INCLUDE: Florissant MO 63032 Heritage Foundation
In recognition of their courage and perse- Commemorate the P. O. Box 2009 verance, The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation 150th Anniver- has commissioned master sculptor Harry sary of the 1857 Commemoration, Education, Reconciliation Weber to design and build a memorial statue Dred Scott Deci- of these courageous pioneers for civil rights. sion
Create a life-size
-
It is often said that we stand on the shoulders 2009 of those who have gone before us. Few statue of Dred and Harriet Scott as a shoulders have borne more in the struggle for memorial to be lo-
freedom than Dred and Harriet Scott, who cated at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. helped bring forth the Freedom Amendments Louis—site of their landmark freedom trials. by which our civil rights are protected. Many (Anticipated 2012) who have come after have rightly been Expand educational opportunities for students honored. It is time to honor the Scotts and of all ages to learn about the impact this case remember their courage which freed a nation. had on human slavery and how it changed the history of our nation by: *Speaking and traveling to share the history and current events related to the history President and Founder *Creating materials that aid the learning of African American history within US history Friends of Dred Scott Lynne M. Jackson is (corporate/civic/individuals) the President and Young Friends of Dred Scott Founder of the Dred Documentaries and multi-media presenta- Scott Heritage Foun- tions dation. She is a great- Lesson Plans for students grades K-12 great granddaughter Scholarships for students studying law, of Dred and Harriet history, science and math Scott. She continues Hold annual Dred and Harriet Scott Recon- sharing the family ciliation Forums. We engage in dialogue legacy passed on from and action with our group of descendants her father Dr. John A. Madison, Jr. of civil rights leaders and current activists A Legacy of who desire to create relationships to heal our For more information on these and past histories. other activities, visit the DSHF website at We are called Courage www.thedredscottfoundation.org The Sons and Daughters of Reconciliation
The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization
THE FOUNDATION CHANGES TO THE the Old Courthouse in St. Louis, MO, on For over a decade, their combined cases the legal principle of once free, always free. coursed through the court system until on CONSTITUTION
OUR GOAL is to promote the commemo- For almost eleven years, the Scotts’ five March 6, 1857, the Supreme Court of the ration, education and reconciliation of our court proceedings further agitated our na- United States delivered its infamous Dred The nation, however, had yet to go histories. These objectives overlap and are tion divided by slavery and disrupted the Scott Decision, which stated in part: through the most divisive internal struggle constantly being addressed in the various already uncertain life that slavery ensured for its soul. Notwithstanding, the decision opportunities we create and are involved in to for the Scotts. Caught in the middle of the “... We have come to the conclusion that and the Scotts’ courage changed our nation ensure that we never forget the struggle for growing fervor over the outcome of their the African race ... whether free or slave, from being a slaveholding republic to a were not intended to be included in the freedom, citizenship and equality, with an case, the Scotts hid away their young nation more free. That decision was a major constitution for the enjoyment of any per- eye towards helping to heal the wounds of daughters, Eliza and Lizzie, to protect them sonal rights or benefits:…from the facts catalyst that: the past. against the increasing danger and the threat stated, that Dred Scott is not a citizen ..... motivated Abraham Lincoln to run for FOUNDED in 2006 in St. Louis, of being sold as they grew older. and are all together unfit to associate with President, Despite the local pressures, the national Missouri, the Foundation was established the white race, either in social or political helped bring about the Civil War, and relations; and so far inferior, that they because our collective knowledge of the resulted in the 13th, 14th, and 15th had no rights which the white man was significance of the persons of Dred and Amendments to the Constitution. Harriet and the impact of the Dred Scott bound to respect; and that the negro might decision on our nation is relatively unknown. justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.” The Foundation is a vehicle to educate us about the Dred Scott story and related unknown histories. The Court’s decision in DRED SCOTT the Dred Scott Case AND THE defined the future of QUEST FOR FREEDOM slavery and status not only of slaves, but free In a little more than a decade after that decision, our nation abolished slavery, Slaves Dred and climate, and the personal implications and Blacks in the United States. With the help granted equal citizenship to all, and guaran- Harriet Scott chose sacrifices, Dred and Harriet decided to pro- teed the right to vote regardless of race or to use the law and ceed. With the support of the grown chil- of their attorneys and the Blow family, on color. the courts to gain dren of Dred’s former owner, Peter Blow, President Lincoln said a nation cannot be their freedom, yet and the additional help of attorneys Roswell May 26, 1857, in the Old Courthouse, the Scott’s Freedom Bond half slave and half free; it must be all slave the law and courts Field and Montgomery Blair, they contin- or all free, and secession was not an option would not free ued for one more chance at justice. The risk Dred Scott Family was manumitted from slavery and given their for him. The liberation of the slaves was them. Husband was worth it, if their family could remain indeed the liberation of the nation. intact and possibly become free. freedom bonds, but had no rights protected and wife each filed Scott v. Emerson Petition for their own petition Freedom. April 6, 1846 (courtesy under the law. of Missouri State Archives) on April 6, 1846 at