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| Watch the Archived Webcasts of the Nov. 16, 2006 Productions |
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Bound for Freedom
11.16.2006 | 10:00am |
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Bound for Freedom
11.16.2006 | 11:00am |
Bound for Freedom in Previous Years:
2007
2006 |
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Upcoming 2006 Production
The Indiana Supreme Court held back-to-back productions of "Bound for Freedom" on Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 10:00am and 11:00am. These productions were attended by students from four Indiana schools and starred Veronique Pulliam as Polly Strong.
About the Production
This was originally a Free CLE Event sponsored by Courts in the Classroom, the Indiana Commission for Continuing Legal Education, and the Leora Brown School with funding from the Indiana Bar Foundation.
The Court will continue to hold this re-enactment each November to commemorate the anniversary of this case. 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 future performances. For other field trip programs in the Indiana Supreme Court courtroom, please contact Dr. Osborn or visit http://www.in.gov/judiciary/citc/trips.html.
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Drawing of Polly Strong |
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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 that was brought on behalf of a young black woman, Polly Strong.
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. The event will feature a 30 minute one-woman play, Kendra Mitchell, an Indianapolis area actress, will play the role of Polly. Following the play will be a question and answer session moderated by Richard Day from the Vincennes State Historical site. Vincennes was the home of Polly and Hyacinth Lasselle, and the location of the first trial.
| Watch the Archived Webcast of the Nov. 8, 2005 Production |
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Bound for Freedom
Watch the play Bound for Freedom featuring actress Kendra Mitchell and the students of Key Learning Center (Indianapolis) |
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The November 8, 2005 production was part of the tenth annual “Spirit and Place” Festival. Students from schools in New Albany and Indianapolis participated in the event by role-playing parts in the re-enactment of the case between Polly Strong and Vincennes businessman Hyacinth Lasselle. Polly Strong was played by Kendra Mitchell.
Spirit and Place is Central Indiana 's annual civic festival of the arts, humanities, and religion. Produced by The Polis Center at IUPUI, the festival is a collaboration of dozens of partner organizations. The 2005 festival took place November 4 - 20 throughout Central Indiana. This year's theme was Moving and Staying and includes 100 events. For more information, visit: www.spiritandplace.org.
Supporting Materials
Some of the following documents are available in Adobe PDF format only.
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view them.
| Document Title |
"Bound to be Free: The Case of Polly Strong"
Script based on Lasselle v. State for use in classrooms |
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Directions for Holding a Performance of “Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong” in the Classroom |
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Supreme Court's decision on State v. Lasselle
Declares Polly Strong a free woman (90-146-32) (July 22, 1820) |
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| Timeline: Events Surrounding State v. Lasselle |
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| 1816 Indiana Constitution (Indiana State Archives) |
| Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (Indiana Historical Bureau) |
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| Document Title |
Page Images |
Transcript |
| I. KNOX COUNTY COURT CASE |
| (A) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-116-4)
- Writ of Habeas Corpus to Lasselle (July 15, 1818)
- Lasselle's Reply asking to dismiss the case. Signed and witnessed indentures for James and Polly accompany it. (July 16, 1818)
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| (B) Knox Co. Court Record #2104 (90-116-4F)
- Polly and James's Reply to Lasselle's Writ of Habeas Corpus. (August 1818)
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| (C) Knox Co. Court Record (90-116-4A-E)
- 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)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4D) (May 4, 1819)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#2 above). (no date)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4C) (May 7, 1819)
- Knox Co. Sheriff replies that two named witnesses are not in his district. (May Term 1819)
- Request by Polly and James's attorney to summon witnesses on behalf of Polly and James (90-116-4B) (May 8, 1819)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly and James. (90-116-4E) (May 8, 1819)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#5 above). (May 10, 1819)
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(E) Knox Co. Court Record #2420 (90-143-4)
- Grand Jury indictment of Joseph Hoffman for taking Polly without consent of Lasselle (January 25, 1820)
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| (D) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-134-6).
- Writ of Habeas Corpus to Lasselle for Polly only. (90-134-6) (January 27, 1820)
- Lasselle's Reply to writ (recalling his purchase and right to own her). (no date)
- Polly's Reply (after Lasselle's Reply) (90-134-6I) (no date)
- Bond for $500 made by Lasselle regarding the presenting of Polly to court. (90-134-6D) (January 28, 1820)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6H) (January 28, 1820)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#5 above) (no date)
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| (E) Knox Co. Court Record #2535
- 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)
- Huffman replies to Lasselle's accusation by stating he does not owe him any money. (90-146-79A) (February Term 1820)
- 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)
- Bail set for Huffman and paid by John Reiley. (January 28, 1820)
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(D) Knox Co. Court Record #2325 (90-134-6)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6J) (February 4, 1820)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#7 above) (no date)
- Lasselle's Requests a Continuance on the case. (90-134-6C) (February 12, 1820)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Lasselle. (90-134-6G) (February 12, 1820)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#10 above) (February Term 1820)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Polly. (90-134-6E) (April 10, 1820)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#12 above) (May Term 1820)
- Knox Co. Court orders Knox County Sheriff to bring witnesses on behalf of Lasselle. (90-134-6F) (April 10, 1820)
- Execution by bailiff on summons (#14 above) (May Term 1820)
- Bond for $200 between Joseph Huffman and Lasselle regarding Polly. (90-134-6B) (May 12, 1820)
- Knox Co. Court's Ruling on whether Polly is free or not. (90-134-6A) (no date)
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| II Reversal of Judgment in Supreme Court |
(F) Knox Co. Court Record #2490 [90-146-32] and #2890-2
- 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)]
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n/a |
| III. Joseph Huffman v. Polly Strong |
(G) Knox Co. Court Records #2890
- Statement of Joseph Huffman's charges against Polly (Trespass on the case). (March 2, 1822)
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(H) Knox Co. Court Records [90-157-11A-D]
- 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)
- Polly's bail is set at $116.17-1/2 and paid by Jacob Call. (90-157-11A) (March 8, 1822)
- 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)
- Executed Summons for the above (#3) (no date)
- Polly denies charges. (90-157-11C) (April 3, 1822)
- The Jury finds for the Plaintiff (Joseph Huffman) and awards $35 in damages. (no date)
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Image Gallery
You may click some images below to enlarge them.
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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 |
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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
[ click to enlarge]
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Justice Isaac Blackford (1817-1853) - Biography |
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