History
Watch this video for the Iowa and national history of Juneteenth.
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On April 11, 2002, Legislation was signed into law by former Governor Tom Vilsack, currently the United States Secretary of Agriculture, establishing Juneteenth as an official day of recognition in Iowa to be annually observed on the third Saturday in June. February 26, 2015 The Iowa House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 11(HR11) that included the following language: "BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives acknowledges the 25th Anniversary of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance and recognizes the significant role of the Iowa Juneteenth Observance in serving as cultural and historical asset to Iowa's citizens." March 23, 2015 The State Historical Society (Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs) received deeded artifacts from the Iowa Juneteenth Observance for inclusion in the permanent records of the museum collection. The artifacts help make up the Juneteenth in Iowa museum exhibit prepared by the State Historical Museum of Iowa. June 19, 2015, Iowa Public Television aired a program, "2015 Juneteenth Jamboree", that was produced by PBS station KRLU TV out of Austin, Texas and included information on the Iowa Juneteenth Observance. |
Past & Current Iowa Juneteenth General Chairpersons
Gary L. Lawson
(IJO Founder) 1990-2012 & 2015: *General Chair Emeritus |
Chris Johnson
2013 - 2014 |
Dwana Bradley
2015-Present |