Today in 1644 In the first group emancipation in colonial North America, conditional freedom and some land for farming are granted to eleven black men and their wives who had been enslaved by the Dutch West India Company; their children, however, were to remain in bondage.

The New-York Historical Society and NYC Media, the official network of the City of New York, have partnered to produce a special series of 90 one-minute videos that feature the staff of the New-York Historical Society as they answer some of the most captivating questions ever posed to them about the City’s fascinating and unique history. And now, the series has been nominated for a New York Emmy award!