Courts in the Classroom
Supreme Court of Indiana
Division of State Court Administration
30 S. Meridian Street, Ste 500
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Dr. Elizabeth R. Osborn
Coordinator for
Public History and
Education Programs

Pho: 317.233.8682
elizabeth.osborn@courts.IN.gov

Sarah Kidwell
Outreach Coordinator

Pho: 317.234.3055
sarah.kidwell@courts.IN.gov

 

2011 Outstanding Public
History Project Award
from the National Council
on Public History

More Awards

Courts in the Classroom > Lesson Plans & Materials > Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong Bound for Freedom: the Case of Polly Strong

About this EventDrawing of Polly Strong

The Court hosts this interactive program each winter to commemorate a famous case challenging the prohibition of slavery found in Indiana's 1816 Constitution.  The program focuses on the struggles of a young black woman, Polly Strong, to achieve 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.

Future Programs

We invite classroom teachers, home school groups, history clubs and so forth to contact sarah.kidwell@courts.IN.gov if you are interested in participating in future programs.

2013 Production

The Indiana Supreme Court held productions of its interactive drama "Bound for Freedom:  the Case of Polly Strong" on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 9:30am and 11:30am.  Get details for this production. 

Teacher Resources

Supporting Materials

I.  Knox County Court Case

II.  Reversal of Judgment in Supreme Court

III.  Joseph Huffman v. Polly Strong

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