There is a backstory to the Dred Scott decision. New information reveals that Harriet Scott, who was involved in the original suit for freedom with her husband, lived for a decade after the Civil War. The Scotts had two children. Eliza and Lizzie were given the protection of anonymity during the fractious period during which the Scotts sought emancipation.  Genealogist Ruth Ann Hager of the St. Louis County Library did the research, which is  outlined in her book Dred and Harriet Scott…Their Family Story.

Listen to the episode:

Contributor:

Genealogist Ruth Ann Hager of the St. Louis County Library, author of Dred and Harriet Scott…Their Family Story.

Additional information about this episode:

Expanded Scott history

Detailed Scott history in St. Louis

David Konig biography and photo

John Baugh biography and photo

Ruth Ann Hager biography and photo

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About the Project:

With this collection of archived interviews of St. Louis on the Air, we present an oral history of civil rights, the black experience, and race relations in St. Louis from 1847 to 2010.

Additional Resources:

The Beacon's Race Frankly Series:
An on-going community discussion around progress being made on the subject of race in the St. Louis metro area.

Eyes on the Prize:
A documentary from PBS's American Experience

FOCUS St. Louis project: Bridges Across Racial Polarization:
Get to know people whom you might not otherwise meet.

Missouri History Museum exhibit, Race: Are We So Different?
Learn the history of race, the role of science in that history, and the subtle and obtrusive expressions of race and racism in institutions and daily lives.

NAACP:
The nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.

Southern Poverty Law Center:
A nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society.