The Dallas Historical Society Unveils the Only Known Original Printed General Order No. 3 Handbill – Juneteenth
(Featured photo: Karl Chiao, Executive Director, Dallas Historical Society; Featured speakers Rev. Peter Johnson, Dr. Marvin Dulaney and Levi Davis.)
Also revealed were two interactive exhibits honoring Juneteenth
Stop by during the Texas State Fair!
The Dallas Historical Society honored Juneteenth with the unveiling of an exciting new exhibit which includes the only known original printed General Order No. 3 handbill, the historic order proclaiming that all enslaved people in Texas were now free. The official original handwritten order is housed at the U.S. National Archives.
The historic General Order No. 3 that forever altered the course of American history is currently displayed as an integral part of an immersive, rotating exhibition called “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom.” This interactive exhibit has two parts: the “Historical Track” includes firsthand accounts of emancipation shared by formerly enslaved individuals, and the “Celebration Track,” which invites visitors to reflect on Juneteenth by recording their own stories and sentiments.
Revealed at a reception and panel discussion titled “Juneteenth: A Dialogue on Change and Community,” the two immersive exhibits are a part of five new rotating exhibits in the Hall of Heroes at the Hall of State made possible by a grant from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Foundation. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will remain in the Hall of State through the end of the State Fair of Texas on October 19, 2025.
Beginning with a “Pour Yourself Into History” happy hour meet-and-greet with the panelists and light reception, the panel discussion was moderated by Levi Davis, Dallas’ first African American Assistant City Manager and the incoming board chair for the African American Museum, and featured renowned scholar and historian Dr. Marvin Dulaney, Director and COO of the African American Museum and civil rights icon Reverend Peter Johnson who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama during the Selma to Montgomery marches and lives in Dallas.
Together, the three shared personal stories, historical insights, and reflections on the meaning of Juneteenth, the long road to freedom, progress, and the work that remains to build a more just and inclusive future. They all emphasized that there were no riots in Dallas because everyone was working together peacefully and knew they had to make changes, forming the Committee of 14, consisting of seven whites and seven African Americans organized by the Dallas Citizens Council in 1960.
The original Juneteenth General Order No. 3 document was bequeathed to the Dallas Historical Society by G.B. Dealey, who brought the document with him when he moved to Dallas from Galveston, where he had worked at the local paper, in 1885 to establish and lead The Dallas Morning News. He also co-founded the Dallas Historical Society with 100 charter members in 1922.
Karl Chiao, executive director of the Dallas Historical Society said, “The ‘Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom’ exhibition, featuring the only known original printed General Order No. 3 handbill, explores the historic origins of Juneteenth and the lasting impact of this Texas-born tradition, which has come to resonate across the nation. While the exhibition is presented by the Dallas Historical Society, we are proud to partner with our Fair Park neighbor, The African American Museum, on the Juneteenth celebration and accompanying public program to remember and honor this important holiday.”
To learn more about the Dallas Historical Society and how you can become a member or more about the exhibits and opportunities, visit the website at www.dallashistory.org
About Dallas Historical Society
Established in 1922, the Dallas Historical Society is the preeminent organization of its kind in Dallas, collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire future generations. Housed at the Hall of State in Fair Park since 1938, the Society presents these collections through education programs, exhibitions, tours, access to research materials and workshops. Each year, the Dallas Historical Society is visited by more than 160,000 people and serves more than 20,000 students through guided tours and educational programming at the Hall of State, as well as outreach programs at school locations. More information is available at https://www.dallashistory.org/.
About Hall of State
Built by the State of Texas for the 1936 Centennial Exposition in Fair Park, the Hall of State has hosted events honoring presidents, royalty, heads of state, and other dignitaries for over eighty years. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas, the Hall of State can be rented for private functions ranging from corporate dinners or meetings to weddings or gala social events. Rental fees support the operations of the Dallas Historical Society, which calls the Hall of State “home.”
Photos by Thomas Garza.
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent the Dallas Historical Society and its special events and announcements and post this PhilanthropyLifestyles Scene.)
