The Induction
On May 9, 2012 in the State Capitol, Jefferson City, Missouri, Dred Scott was acknowledged with the honor of being inducted in the Hall of Famous Missourians.
It was brought to our attention in 2007 that the area on the second floor of the Missouri state capital, which honors famous people from Missouri, did not include someone who was very famous from Missouri; you guessed it, Dred Scott.
The hall is very impressive and the busts of the honored sit upon elegant pedestals in a beautiful setting. This fact was challenged by a state representative who could not believe he was not already there, but upon twice walking the halls had to admit it was true. Immediately with his assistance, things were set in motion to rectify that.
In 2010, Steven Tilley agreed that this “oversight should be corrected” and committed to seeing that Dred Scott would be inducted. On May 9th, Speaker Tilley inducted his selection of Dred Scott into that noted place of honor. “We at the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation are thrilled that it is finally happening. Dred will be among those noted Missourians whose actions and lives have changed things drastically as well as those who are known for their celebrity”, said Lynne Jackson, foundation president and direct descendant of the Scotts. Dred and his wife Harriet sued for their freedom in April of 1846.
Their case ended up in the US Supreme Court and on March 6, 1857, the Dred Scott Decision was handed down which denied their freedom and in subsequent other unrelated rulings, opened the door for national slavery. Their case was a catalyst and prelude for the civil war.
On February 27, Speaker Tilley inducted John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil, first baseman of the newly formed Negro American Baseball League, hall of famer and All Star and Negro League World Series player multiple times. Also among the honorees is Susan Blow who founded the kindergarten movement in America. She is also a member of the Blow family who previously owned Dred Scott but then for many years supported his family’s quest for freedom. It was her uncle, Taylor Blow, who purchased their freedom bonds.