Courts in the Classroom Lesson Plans and Materials
"Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong"
Indianapolis, November 18, 2008
 
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Bound for Freedom
11.18.2008 | 10:30am

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Windows Media:
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Bound for Freedom
11.18.2008 | 12:30pm

Bound for Freedom in Previous Years:
2007
2006

Upcoming 2008 Production
The Indiana Supreme Court will hold back-to-back productions of its' interactive drama "Bound for Freedom" on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 10:30am and 12:30pm (slight time change possible depending on bus scheduling.) These productions are for students from any Indiana schools, homeschools, or scout groups. Veronique Briscoe-Beuoy will once again star as Polly Strong.

About the Production

The Court will continue to hold this re-enactment each November to commemorate this case. The drama includes parts for about 50 members of the audience. We invite classroom teachers, home school groups, history clubs and so forth to contact Dr. Elizabeth Osborn at eosborn@courts.state.in.us if you are interested in participating in this program. For information about other field trip programs in the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom, please contact Dr. Osborn or visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/trips.html.


About the Case

Drawling of Polly Strong
Drawing of Polly Strong
 

Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong is a drama that re-enacts aspects of a famous case challenging the prohibition of slavery found in Indiana's 1816 Constitution. A young black woman, Polly Strong, from Vincennes, Indiana sued for her freedom.

Decades before the question of slavery tore our nation apart, the Indiana Supreme Court grappled with this issue. In the early days of Indiana statehood, Polly Strong was a young enslaved mulatto woman owned by Col. Hyacinth Lasselle, one of Vincennes' most prominent citizens. This interactive play documents the struggles of the young black woman to find out if she would be free or slave, as Indiana moved from Territory to State.  The Supreme Court determined Indiana had banned slavery in 1816 and held Col. Lasselle's claim to Polly violated the State constitution.

This program was developed by Courts in the Classroom and the Leora Brown School with funding from the Indiana Bar Foundation.

 

 



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Supporting Materials
Some of the following documents are available in Adobe PDF format only.
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Document Title
MS Word
PDF
"Bound to be Free: The Case of Polly Strong"
Script based on Lasselle v. State for use in classrooms
MS Word
Adobe PDF

Directions for Holding a Performance of “Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong” in the Classroom

MS Word
Adobe PDF
Supreme Court's decision on State v. Lasselle
Declares Polly Strong a free woman (90-146-32) (July 22, 1820)
Adobe PDF
Timeline: Events Surrounding State v. Lasselle
Adobe PDF
1816 Indiana Constitution (Indiana State Archives)
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (Indiana Historical Bureau)
 
Document Title
Page Images
Transcript
I. KNOX COUNTY COURT CASE

(A) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-116-4)

  1. Writ of Habeas Corpus to Lasselle (July 15, 1818)
  2. Lasselle's Reply asking to dismiss the case. Signed and witnessed indentures for James and Polly accompany it. (July 16, 1818)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(B) Knox Co. Court Record #2104 (90-116-4F)

  1. Polly and James's Reply to Lasselle's Writ of Habeas Corpus. (August 1818)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(C) Knox Co. Court Record (90-116-4A-E)

  1. Petition for Polly and James's Mother (Jenny) explaining how they came into Lasselle's possession and argument for their freedom (90-116-4A) (no date)
  2. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4D) (May 4, 1819)
  3. Execution by bailiff on summons (#2 above). (no date)
  4. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4C) (May 7, 1819)
  5. Knox Co. Sheriff replies that two named witnesses are not in his district. (May Term 1819)
  6. Request by Polly and James's attorney to summon witnesses on behalf of Polly and James (90-116-4B) (May 8, 1819)
  7. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4E) (May 8, 1819)
  8. Execution by bailiff on summons (#5 above). (May 10, 1819)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(E) Knox Co. Court Record #2420 (90-143-4)

  1. Grand Jury indictment of Joseph Hoffman for taking Polly without consent of Lasselle (January 25, 1820)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(D) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-134-6).

  1. Writ of Habeas Corpus to Lasselle for Polly only. (90-134-6) (January 27, 1820)
  2. Lasselle's Reply to writ (recalling his purchase and right to own her). (no date)
  3. Polly's Reply (after Lasselle's Reply) (90-134-6I) (no date)
  4. Bond for $500 made by Lasselle regarding the presenting of Polly to court. (90-134-6D) (January 28, 1820)
  5. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6H) (January 28, 1820)
  6. Execution by bailiff on summons (#5 above) (no date)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(E) Knox Co. Court Record #2535

  1. Lasselle’s statement. Because Huffman detained Polly for 19 days (Jan. 9-27), he wants $1 per day she is gone. (90-146-79B) (January 28, 1820)
  2. Huffman replies to Lasselle's accusation by stating he does not owe him any money. (90-146-79A) (February Term 1820)
  3. Knox Co. Court orders the sheriff to detain Joseph Huffman until the beginning of the February Term in regards to Lasselle's plea that he render $19 to him. (90-146-79) (January 28, 1820)
  4. Bail set for Huffman and paid by John Reiley. (January 28, 1820)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(D) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-134-6)

  1. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6J) (February 4, 1820)
  2. Execution by bailiff on summons (#7 above) (no date)
  3. Lasselle's Requests a Continuance on the case. (90-134-6C) (February 12, 1820)
  4. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Lasselle. (90-134-6G) (February 12, 1820)
  5. Execution by bailiff on summons (#10 above) (February Term 1820)
  6. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6E) (April 10, 1820)
  7. Execution by bailiff on summons (#12 above) (May Term 1820)
  8. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Lasselle. (90-134-6F) (April 10, 1820)
  9. Execution by bailiff on summons (#14 above) (May Term 1820)
  10. Bond for $200 between Joseph Huffman and Lasselle regarding Polly. (90-134-6B) (May 12, 1820)
  11. Knox Co. Court's Ruling on whether Polly is free or not. (90-134-6A) (no date)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF
II Reversal of Judgment in Supreme Court

(F) Knox Co. Court Record #2490 [90-146-32] and #2890-2

  1. Supreme Court's decision on Polly v. Lasselle. Declares Polly Strong a free woman (90-146-32) (July 22, 1820)

[Not Currently Available: Reversal of Judgment in Supreme Court—a second copy of the Supreme Court's decision (#2890-2) (July 22, 1821)]
Adobe PDF
n/a
III. Joseph Huffman v. Polly Strong

(G) Knox Co. Court Records #2890

  1. Statement of Joseph Huffman's charges against Polly (Trespass on the case). (March 2, 1822)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF

(H) Knox Co. Court Records [90-157-11A-D]

  1. Writ for Sheriff to take Polly into custody (for 2 days) before trial (Trespass on the case, Joseph Huffman v. Polly Strong). (90-157-11A) (March 2, 1822)
  2. Polly's bail is set at $116.17-1/2 and paid by Jacob Call. (90-157-11A) (March 8, 1822)
  3. Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses (all people of color) on behalf of Joseph Huffman. (90-157-11D) (March 27, 1822)
  4. Executed Summons for the above (#3) (no date)
  5. Polly denies charges. (90-157-11C) (April 3, 1822)
  6. The Jury finds for the Plaintiff (Joseph Huffman) and awards $35 in damages. (no date)
Adobe PDF
Adobe PDF


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Photograph of State capitol in 1821
Photograph of State capitol in 1821
Corydon, IN - State capitol in 1821 and location of
Supreme Court arguments for In re Clark
Corydon, IN - State capitol in 1821 and location of
Supreme Court arguments for In re Clark
Photograph of Second territorial capitol
Photograph of Photograph of First territorial capitol before Corydon
Corydon, IN - Second territorial capitol, first state capitol
Vincennes, IN (Knox County) - First territorial capitol before Corydon and
location where original case concerning Mary Clark was heard
   
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Map of Northwest Territory
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Justice Isaac Blackford (1817-1853) - Biography
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Last modified on Friday, October, 10, 2008