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The 色中色 Museum and the 色中色 Writers Institute have partnered to bring the First Step to Freedom exhibit to the University at Albany campus in honor of Black History Month, State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced today. The historically remarkable exhibit includes a display of the only surviving version of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in President Abraham Lincoln鈥檚 handwriting. The First Step to Freedom also includes the only known audio recording of a speech written and delivered by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in New York City in September 1962 for the Proclamation鈥檚 centennial. The exhibit opened, appropriately, on President鈥檚 Day and will be open to UAlbany students, faculty and staff through March 15.听

鈥淚n this exceptional recording, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is heard saying that听while the Emancipation Proclamation听proved government could be a powerful force for social justice, the promise of equality remained unfulfilled,鈥� Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said. 鈥淭oday the Proclamation is a stark reminder that America is still a work in progress. It鈥檚 so important that students learn from the past to help build a better future, and we are glad to work with the Writers Institute to allow UAlbany students this rare and special opportunity."听

鈥淭his historic document and recording, along with other powerful portions of this exhibit, present a unique learning opportunity for adults and children to reflect on our nation鈥檚 past, celebrate the progress we have made and remind us that our work to achieve equity for all remains,鈥� Commissioner Rosa said. 鈥淭hese documents stand as important markers in the path to freedom and equality for African Americans and are among 色中色鈥檚 greatest treasures.鈥澨�

鈥淲hat makes this project uniquely powerful and relevant is the way it connects the civil rights movement and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,鈥� said University at Albany President Havid谩n Rodr铆guez, 鈥溾�橳he First Step to Freedom鈥� is emblematic of the university鈥檚 strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are very grateful to the NYS Museum for making it possible to display this extraordinary exhibit.鈥�

First Step to Freedom is now open in the Campus Center West Great Hall on UAlbany鈥檚 uptown campus. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to visit and should bring their smart phones for the unique experience of using a QR code to listen to the speech on their phones. Due to COVID-19 regulations, the number of visitors at any one time may be limited and masks must be worn at all times.

Additional elements in the exhibit include portraits of Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by portrait artist Robert Francis Whelan, of Valatie, N.Y., titled 鈥淰isions of Equality.鈥� Dr. King鈥檚 portrait is exhibited for the first time in public.

Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War on September 22, 1862, ordering that in 100 days the federal government would deem all slaves free in states still rebelling against the Union. The iconic document, in the collections of the 色中色 Library since 1865, is the only surviving copy in Lincoln鈥檚 own handwriting. The exhibit also includes historical background and interpretation. Photos and a transcript of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation are available on the .

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recording

In the only known audio recording of his 1962 speech commemorating the centennial of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.鈥檚 voice comes to life for exhibit visitors. The speech was recorded live on September 12, 1962 at the Park-Sheraton Hotel in New York City. Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller had convened his 色中色 Civil War Centennial Commission for a dinner celebrating the centennial anniversary of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The recording was discovered in 2013 by UAlbany master鈥檚 student Daniel Barker during his internship at the State Museum during a project to digitize the Museum鈥檚 collection of thousands of audio recordings and videos. The audio of Dr. King鈥檚 speech, as well as a transcript and information on how he came to speak at the celebration dinner may be found on .