President Harry S. Truman,
33rd President of the United States of America, signs the bill proclaiming February 1, the date on which Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This Amendment was signed by President Lincoln on February 1, 1865 and it helped end the physical slavery for the Black slaves. National Freedom Day has been celebrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since 1941. On February 1, 2016, it will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Major Richard Robert Wright Sr. was founder and first president.

Observing the signing in Washington, D.C. on June 3, 1948 are, left to right, Mrs. Harriet Wright Lemon, treasurer of the Citizens and Southern Bank & Trust Company of Philadelphia; Joseph E. Mitchell, editor of the St. Louis Argus; Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, president of the National Council of Negro Women of America; Emanuel Crogman Wright, president of Citizens and Southern Bank & Trust Company of Phildelphia; Dr. W.H. Jernagin, president of the National Sunday School, and Elder L. Michaux, president of the National Memorial to the Progress of the Colored Race of America.