EIGHTH OF AUGUST 
HISTORY

Watch Eighth of August Documentary

Emancipation - Freedom

August 8, 1863, Tennessee Military Governor Andrew Johnson freed enslaved people. The Eighth of August a pivotal point in American History. It is a significant part of the History of Emancipation and Freedom in the State of Tennessee.

Sam
Johnson

HISTORY

August 8

August 8, 1863, Andrew Johnson, Tennessee Military Governor, who would later become the 17th president of the United States, freed enslaved people, some of which were his illegitimate children. This date became known as Emancipation Day. The first recorded celebration of the Eighth of August as Emancipation Day was in Greeneville, Tennessee in 1871. The best explanation of the origins of the celebration can be found in an August 8, 1921 article in the Knoxville Journal and Tribune. Eventually the Eighth of August was celebrated in at least seven states and 55 communities. It is still celebrated in Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. 
LEARN MORE

Bill Designating 
August 8 
State Holiday

A bill proposed by State Representative Rick Staples (15th District) to designate Emancipation Day as a legal state holiday passed the Tennessee House, unanimously, Monday, March 2, 2020. 
House Bill 1544 Designates August 8 "Emancipation Day," a State Holiday.
In 2007, Governor Phil Bredesen signed House Bill No. 207 acknowledging August 8 as “Emancipation Day,” an annual day of special observance to recognize the freeing of Andrew Johnson’s personal slaves and 
“the significance of emancipation in the history of Tennessee.”

History of August 8 and
Chilhowee Park

In 1937, the Knoxville Flashlight-Herald, an African American weekly, sponsored the “Bronze Mayor Contest” in an effort to provide the local African American community “elected” leadership. The poll favored Dr. James H. Presnell and he became the “Bronze Mayor” and the “official” spokesman for Knoxville’s African American population. July 22, 1939, Mayor Presnell signed a proclamation urging all employers in the City to release as many colored citizens as is practicable, in order that they may participate in the activities and the celebration on Tuesday, August 8, 1939 in Chilhowee Park.  
 
During this period of legal segregation in Knoxville, Chilhowee Park was only open to African Americans one day a year, August 8, and this continued until 1948.  

The Beck Cultural Exchange Center hosted its First Annual Eighth of August Jubilee, August 8, 2015 in Chilhowee Park. Since that time, Beck has continued to host annual events on August 8 and on the second Saturday in August to commemorate Emancipation in the State of Tennessee.  

Dr. James H. Presnell

Bronze Mayor 1939

Button

Chilhowee Park

August 8

Only Day the Park was 

Open to African Americans

Button

History of the Eighth of August 

Heritage Honor

HERITAGE HONOREES

Honoring Those Who Have Made Significant Contributions

The Heritage Honor acknowledges those who are making and/or have made significant contributions to preserving and upholding the rich legacy of African American history, culture, and education for present and future generations. Honorees are recognized each year during the Annual Eighth of August Jubilee events and activities.

Eighth of August Jubilee


Heritage Honor

THE HERITAGE HONOR

Honoring Those Who Have Made Significant Contributions

The Heritage Honor was presented at the first Annual Eighth of August Jubilee Festival on August 8, 2015, to Mr. Ned Arter. Mr. Arter is the great-great-grandson of Samuel Johnson, an enslaved man who was freed on August 8, 1863. Samuel Johnson is recorded in history as establishing the Eighth of August Celebrations, known as the Day of Emancipation.


During the first annual Eighth of August Jubilee in 2015, Beck Cultural Exchange Center celebrated its 40th anniversary. In addition to the Annual Heritage Honor, a Special Honor was presented to Ms. Margaret Gaiter to mark that milestone. Ms. Gaiter was a founding member and the first president of the Beck Board of Directors. She received the honor for her exemplary service and dedication to preserving the rich African American history in East Tennessee, as well as for her servant leadership and unwavering commitment to the work of Beck.

HERITAGE HONOREES

Heritage Award Honorees

MAYOR DANIEL T. BROWN - 2026

The Honorable Daniel T. Brown received the Heritage Honor in 2026 for his distinguished leadership, historic public service, and unwavering commitment to the citizens of Knoxville. As Knoxville's first African American Mayor, his life of service strengthened our community, inspired future generations, and enriched the enduring legacy of African American history and civic leadership in East Tennessee.

NEGRO SOUTHERN LEAGUE - 2025

The Heritage Honor in 2025 recognized the 1920 Negro Southern League players, and all those members of the Knoxville Giants Teams and East Tennessee Black Baseball – all legends of the game during legal segregation were invited to be celebrated.

WILLIAM (BILL) H. HASTIE IV - 2024

William H. Hastie IV received the Heritage Honor in 2024 for his unwavering commitment to advancing equality and justice for all through the law, including his work on Civil Rights cases before and after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. He carries on the legacy and rich heritage of his father, William H. Hastie III, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. His father was the first African American U.S. federal judge and the first African American governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. His dedication to pursuing justice is truly unparalleled.

REV. DR. HAROLD MIDDLEBROOK - 2023

Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook received the Heritage Honor in 2023 for his steadfast faith and commitment to the nonviolent pursuit of civil rights and equality. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, he went on to Morehouse University, where his path of activism took shape. In the 1960s, he participated in sit-ins and boycotts, led voter registration campaigns and demonstrations, and organized a Southern Christian Leadership Conference field office in Selma, Alabama. As an ordained minister, he also began his pastoral leadership in the 1960s.

LOIS LEFLORE - 2022

Lois LeFlore received the Heritage Honor in 2022 for her contributions to Black history, culture, and education. A lifelong member of and advocate for the Lonsdale community, she taught for more than 30 years in the Knoxville City school system at Heiskell Elementary and Maynard Elementary, and was the first Black teacher at West View Elementary School before retiring in the late 1970s. She served as a leader in the Girls Police Cadet program for teenage girls and was a summer Girl Scout Camp leader for many years. Her decades of service made an incredible impact upon her community.

FELICIA FELDER HOEHNE - 2021

Ms. Felicia Felder Hoehne received the Heritage Honor in 2021for her contributions to Black history, culture, and education. A Knoxville pioneer, she became the first Black librarian in the history of the University of Tennessee in 1969 when she accepted the position at the John C. Hodges Library. She continued to serve as a professor and research librarian for almost 45 years. Her decades of service made an incredible impact on her community.

ETHER RICE JACKSON - 2020

Ms. Ether Rice Jackson, born in 1920, received the Annual Heritage Honor in 2020 at age 100. The honor recognized her unselfish devotion to preserving and conserving the obituaries of African Americans in East Tennessee. Through her careful work, she helped safeguard records that contain vital genealogical information and bear witness to the achievements, lives, and legacy of so many great people in our community.

KNOXVILLE BRANCH NAACP - 2019

The Knoxville Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People received the Annual Heritage Honor in 2019. The honor was presented in commemoration of the organization's centennial anniversary, its members, its group of founding members, including James G. Beck, namesake of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and all those who endeavor to advance justice for African Americans.  

JOAN TRUMPAUER MULHOLLAND - 2018

Joan Trumpauer Mulholland received the Annual Heritage Award in 2018. Joan is a Civil Rights Icon and Freedom Rider, and the recipient of the 2015 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award. The award was presented for her unselfish devotion to freedom and her relentless pursuit of civil rights for African Americans. 

CHRIS BLUE - 2017

Chris Blue received the Annual Heritage Honor in 2017 in recognition of his outstanding achievement as the 2017 winner of The Voice and his continued contributions to the arts, culture, and community.

DR. MARY WHALEY (Posthumously) - 2016

Dr. Mary Whaley received the Annual Heritage Honor posthumously in 2016. Dr. Whaley passed away on January 29, 2016. The award was presented for her work to ensure the preservation of the historic Fourth United Presbyterian Church (formerly First United Presbyterian Church) Freedmen's Mission Historic Cemetery adjacent to historic Knoxville College. Many of our ancestors are interred in this historic cemetery, including James and Ethel Beck, the center’s namesake, and those enslaved persons emancipated on August 8, 1863. 

NED ARTER - 2015

Mr. Ned Arter received the first Annual Heritage Award in 2015. Mr. Arter is the great-great-grandson of  Sam Johnson, an enslaved person freed on August 8, 1863. Mr. Johnson is recorded in history as establishing the Eighth of August Celebrations known as the Day of Emancipation. Mr. Arter also inherited the autographed Silver-Tipped Cane.

MORE EIGHTH OF AUGUST HISTORY

Sam Johnson was emancipated August 8, 1863. After emancipation, Sam was successful in having August 8 set aside for Emancipation Day observances and celebrations. In 1888, it was noted in a Knoxville paper that about 200 people travelled to Greeneville from Knoxville for their celebration. Later, in 1897, 500 people travelled from Knoxville to Johnson City on a “special train of ten coaches” for the celebration there. The first newspaper mention of a Knoxville celebration was in 1899. One year later, in 1900, it was reported that 3500 people from Birmingham, Asheville, Bristol and other cities came to Knoxville for the August 8 celebration. In 1902, a steamboat carrying 500 people travelled from Nashville to Clarksville for August 8, and there was a newspaper estimate of between 3,000 to 5,000 people visiting from out-of-town. In 1908 “several thousand visitors” were expected for a Nashville celebration where the theme was, “Emancipation and What It Means To the Negro.” In 1935, the Memphis Commercial Appeal wrote about large celebrations there. “More than 10,000 Negroes attended special services in 70 Memphis churches yesterday in observance of Emancipation Sunday, 25 of whom were former slaves.” A special event at Booker T. Washington High School saw a crowd of 1,000 people. In 1937, back in Knoxville, Louis Armstrong’s orchestra played at a dance at Chilhowee Park. Since that time, celebrations continue to take place throughout Tennessee and other states. We continue to celebrate August 8, the day of freedom.

Our Freed Ancestors

Sam Johnson was emancipated August 8, 1863 along with his sister Dolly, and her three children, Liz, Florence and William. After Sam, his sister Dolly, and her children, were emancipated, Sam was successful in having August 8 set aside for Emancipation Day observances and celebrations. Since that time, celebrations continue to take place throughout Tennessee and other states.

Dolly’s three children are laid to rest in the Freedmen’s Mission Historic Cemetery. Each year during the Annual Eighth of August Jubilee, Beck hosts The Libation the morning of August 8 on the grounds of the historic cemetery. The Libation is a spiritual ceremony that pays tribute to formerly enslaved people emancipated August 8, 1863, and interred at Freedmen’s Historic Cemetery adjacent to Knoxville College.

The Silver-Tipped Cane
Young William, along with his mother Dolly and his uncle Sam, was emancipated August 8, 1863. One of the crowning moments of William’s life was a trip to Washington, D.C. where he met President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who gave him a silver-tipped cane with both their names inscribed. Ned Arter of Louisville, Kentucky, great-great grandson of Sam Johnson, inherited the cane. Each year during the celebration, he presents the cane for public viewing. 
Eighth of August East Tennessee PBS Documentary
Watch Eighth of August Documentary
East Tennessee PBS produced a documentary that premiered during the first Eighth of August Jubilee Red-Carpet Event, August 8, 2016. The documentary included “8th of August: Tennessee’s Celebration of Emancipation” and “East Tennessee Voices: Knoxville’s 8th of August.” The "East Tennessee Voices: Knoxville’s 8th of August," was filmed at Beck, and included Reneé Kesler as the moderator along with eight extraordinary pioneers who remember the Eighth of August: Ether Jackson, Robert Booker, Eugene Thomas, Avon Rollins, Luther Bradley, Theotis Robinson, Lawrence Washington, and Dessa Blair.

More About The Eighth of August

The History

Sam Johnson, Emancipated Aug 8

Explore More

The Libation

August 8

Explore More