Sojourner Truth’s Historic Supreme Court Documents From the New York State Archives on Display in Kingston

The New York State Archives, in partnership with the City of Kingston and the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, today announces the opening of Sojourner Truth: First Step to Freedom, at City Hall in Kingston, New York. The exhibit will run from September 28 to August 2025 and debut with the unveiling of the bronze statue of Sojourner Truth, created by renowned sculptor Trina Greene. The opening reception will showcase the original New York State Supreme Court documents from 1828, loaned by the New York State Archives, which recount Sojourner Truth’s historic legal victory, successfully suing a white man for her son, Peter, to secure his freedom after he was illegally sold into slavery.

“The discovery and preservation of Sojourner Truth’s court documents by the New York State Archives offers a vital link to our shared history, reminding us of the power of one individual’s fight for justice. Furthermore, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity for the public to connect with Truth’s courageous actions and see firsthand the court documents that played a crucial role in her groundbreaking legal victory, incredible life, and fight for freedom,” said Brian Keough, Assistant Commissioner of the New York State Archives.

“Renowned Artist Trina Greene’s powerful sculpture of Sojourner Truth captures her strength and determination as she walked to freedom. Pairing this work of art with the original court documents from the New York State Archives highlights the personal and legal triumphs that define Sojourner Truth’s strength and enduring legacy,” said Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History at the New York State Museum.

The discovery of the historic New York State Supreme Court documents among 5,000 cubic feet of early court records in the New York State Archives happened in February 2022, when the Office of Cultural Education staff were revising “Duely & Constantly Kept: A History of the New York Supreme Court, 1691-1847 and An Inventory of Its Records (Albany, Utica and Geneva Offices), 1797-1847.” The papers uncovered included Truth’s deposition given by her when she was still known as Isabella Van Wagenen, the writ of habeas corpus, Eleazar Gedney’s response, and the court order freeing Peter.

Below is further information from the New York State Archives Partnership Trust publication: “Duely & Constantly Kept.”

Anti-slavery litigation, 1828.

Women are seldom mentioned in records of the pre-1848 Supreme Court. A notable exception is a black woman named Isabella, who after her conversion to Methodism took the name “Sojourner Truth” and became an anti-slavery activist. In the 1820s the lower Hudson Valley had the largest population of enslaved people in the state. Isabella was born into slavery in Ulster County, and she had several owners, the last being John I. Dumont of New Paltz, from whom she escaped. She and a man named Tomas had several children, including Peter, born in 1818. About 1826, Dumont sold Peter to Eleazar Gedney of Newburgh for $20. On March 1, 1828, Isabella, who had taken the Van Wagenen surname of her employers, applied to a Supreme Court commissioner, Abraham Bruyn Hasbrouck, for a writ of habeas corpus to obtain her son’s freedom. Isabella’s attorneys were Herman M. Romeyn and John Van Buren of Kingston. Her deposition alleged that Eleazar Gedney had sold Peter to his brother Solomon W. Gedney, who had exported the boy to a southern state. Solomon denied that he owned Peter and avoided mentioning export or sale of a slave. On March 14, both Solomon Gedney and Peter appeared before the commissioner, who was convinced by Isabella’s evidence. He ordered Peter to be released under the New York law of 1817, which freed enslaved persons born after July 4, 1799, but bound them to serve their prior owners until they reached their twenties and prohibited transporting such persons out of the state.

The opening reception for the Sojourner Truth: First Step to Freedom exhibit will take place from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, on the first floor of Kingston City Hall. It will include a public unveiling of the sculpture and will be the only opportunity to view the original historical court documents from the New York State Archives that outline the story of Sojourner Truth.

The New York State Archives is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. It is the largest repository of state government records in the nation, holding over 280 million records of state and colonial governments dating back to the Dutch colonial period in 1630. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website.

The New York State Archives Partnership Trust is a statewide non-profit whose mission is to keep over 350 years of New York’s rich and diverse documentary heritage within the New York State Archives accessible and alive through preservation, outreach, education, and statewide partnerships. For more information, visit nysarchivestrust.org or ConsidertheSourceNY.org.

2026 will mark the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the foundational document of the Revolution that occurred between 1775 and 1783 and resulted in the creation of the United States of America. As such, New York State will commemorate this time in our history by recognizing not only the contributions of New Yorkers during the Revolutionary War but also the ongoing efforts over 250 years to advance the ideals of equality and freedom. Through exhibitions, public programs, publications, and events, the commemoration will explore the state’s pivotal role in the evolution of these principles. It will also focus on how New York has been a significant force in those historic moments of change, such as the abolition of slavery, women’s suffrage, the labor movement, and LGBTQ+ rights. For more information, visit the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission webpage.