Freed Will: The Randolph Freedpeople

Freed Will: The Randolph Freedpeople From Slavery to Settlement

“Freed Will: The Randolph Freedpeople From Slavery to Settlement” explores one of the largest emancipations in American history. Nearly 400 formerly enslaved people journeyed hundreds of miles from Virginia to Ohio. They meant to claim land that John Randolph, the man who owned them as slaves, left for them in his will. Upon their arrival to the Miami Valley, the current White residents met them with threats of violence. 

Photograph of the entrance to the Rollin Art Gallery. There is a sign outside of the gallery with a photograph from the exhibit, Freed Will: The Randolph People From Slavery to Settlement.

The exhibit shows that their story does not end in tragedy. The show consists of nineteen panels and several display cases. Follow the Freedpeople’s history from freedom, their grueling pilgrimage, and legal battles to community building in the present day. 

Photograph of part of one of the panels from the exhibit, Freed Will: The Randolph People From Slavery to Settlement. The panel includes a historic photo and text.

There are many impactful objects in the exhibit, including an ornate family bible, Mills Brothers guitar, and a 16th-century manilla bracelet. The photos and artifacts were from Helen Gilmore. Gilmore, a Randolph descendant from William and York Rial, founded the Springcreek Rossville Historic House Museum. She and her husband bequeathed the museum’s contents to the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center. Gilmore founded the Springcreek Historical Society and ran the Rossville Historic House Museum. She collected photos and stories of Randolph descendants until her death. 

Photograph of the Rollin Art Gallery, showing the panels on one wall. The panels are from the exhibit, Freed Will: The Randolph People From Slavery to Settlement. 

The Ohio History Connection and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center created the Freed Will exhibit. It is a traveling exhibit and opened at the Piqua Public Library on September 1st, 2018. The display is open to the public during regular library hours, and there is no admission cost. It will be on view until November 1st, 2018.