Linda B. Osborne discusses her book, Traveling the Freedom Road, which draws on interviews with former slaves in the Library of Congress collections to convey the aspirations, sorrows, courage, and hopes of ordinary people living through this period. More than 80 archival images complement the text. Major events covered include the rise of the domestic slave trade, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Republican Congress' Reconstruction policies.

In this oral history, Hermond Norwood of the Library of Congress interviews Fountain Hughes regarding his time as a slave in Charlottesville, VA.

Loren Schweninger of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro describes the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, including their meeting in the White House following Lincoln's inaugural address.

Maurice Jackson discusses Anthony Benezet, the founder of the antislavery movement in America in the mid-1700s. Benezet believed the British ban on slavery should have been extended to the colonies, and worked to convince his Quaker brethren that slave-owning was not consistent with Christian doctrine.

Talking History's Fred Nielsen discussed the complex story of George Washington, and his action of granting freedom to his slaves, with Henry Wiencek, author of An Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America.

To listen to this podcast, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select "MP3 Format" under "Best of Talking History Program 4: Washington's Slaves."

Dr. Scot French of the University of Virginia looks at Nat Turner's Rebellion, the slave uprising of 1831—considering how the historical narrative and understanding of the Rebellion were formed and continue to be shaped.

To listen to this lecture, select "Part 2" under the February 1st listing.

Dr. Scot French of the University of Virginia looks at Nat Turner's Rebellion, the slave uprising of 1831—considering how the historical narrative and understanding of the Rebellion were formed and continue to be shaped.

To listen to this lecture, select "Podcast Part 1" under the February 1st listing.

David Herbert Donald, Charles Warren Professor of American History and Professor of American Civilization Emeritus at Harvard University, talks about the qualities and experience that made Abraham Lincoln both an exceptional and an unlikely national leader.