Nance: Trials of the First Slave Freed by Abraham Lincoln: A True Story of Mrs. Nance Legins-Costley

Adams, Carl M.: - Carl Adams grew up in Alton, Illinois where historically the first shots of American Civil War killed Abolitionist news publisher Reverend E.P. Lovejoy was assassinated protecting Freedom of the Press in 1837. Author is a life long admirer or Abraham Lincoln. Adams did not think of it at the time, but lived on the socially invisible colour line between the white 'hood' and the black neighborhood and went to an integrated school when much of the US was fighting over segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. During the 'summer of rioting' following the murder of Martin L. King in 1968 childhood friends suddenly became enemies caught in the cross fire of social justice for people of colour. These events left a life long impression of social justice. In 2003, Adams, a white guy, was presented the R.B. Garrett Humanitarian Award from the African American Museum in Peoria Illinois for the research into the genealogy of Nance, the first slave freed by Abraham Lincoln 20 years before the Civil War.