The Bronzeville Origins of Black History Month
In 1913, a sturdy brick and limestone building was completed and opened to the public; standing at five stories tall, what would come to be known as the Wabash Avenue … Learn More
Tag: Black history
Ella G. Berry: Civic and Political Activist
Portrait of Ella G. Berry. Published on in The Story of the Illinois Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs 1900–1922 by Elizabeth Lindsey Davis, 1922. CHM, ICHi-177302A Ella Berry was born … Learn More
Timuel Black, Weaver of Life and History
Last week, noted Chicago historian, teacher, mentor, author, and civil rights leader Timuel Black died at the age of 102. Here, Warren Chapman, the second vice chair of the Chicago … Learn More
Researching the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League
In this blog post, CHM intern Rebekah Otto reflects on her experience working on CHM’s ongoing Afro-American Patrolmen’s League Oral History Project. AAPL vinyl banner that reads, 1961–68. CHM, ICHi-170336 … Learn More
The Hidden Work of Everyday People in the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League
In this blog post, CHM intern Kirsten Lopez shares what she learned while preparing to interview a retired Afro-American Patrolmen’s League member as part of an ongoing CHM oral history … Learn More
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
To mark Labor Day and Chicago’s long history of labor activism, CHM assistant curator Brittany Hutchinson recounts how the Pullman Company’s porters formed the first all-Black labor union in the … Learn More
The Black Nurses of Provident Hospital
CHM assistant curator Brittany Hutchinson recounts how Provident Hospital, the first African American–owned and operated hospital in the US, created opportunities for Black nurses in Chicago. This blog post is part of … Learn More
Irene McCoy Gaines: An Organizer and Advocate for Black Women
In this blog post, CHM curatorial intern Brigid Kennedy recounts the life of Irene McCoy Gaines as part of a series in which we share the stories of local women … Learn More
Elizabeth Lindsay Davis: “Lifting As We Climb”
CHM curatorial intern Brigid Kennedy recounts the extraordinary life of Elizabeth Lindsay Davis. This blog post is part of a series in which we share the stories of local women … Learn More
The Assassination of Fred Hampton
Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois Chapter of Black Panther Party, November 5, 1969. ST-17101234-0002 On the fiftieth anniversary of Fred Hampton’s murder, the Chicago History Museum remembers his life, … Learn More