Category Archives: African Americans

Rev. Henry Brown

Posted on October 31, 2013 by editor

Rev. Henry Brown (1823-1906) was an African Methodist Episcopal preacher in Springfield and elsewhere. He worked in various capacities for the Abraham Lincoln family and led “Old Bob,” the Lincoln family horse, in President Lincoln’s funeral procession. He also was … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Churches, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Home for the Friendless

Posted on October 30, 2013 by editor

The Home for the Friendless assisted indigent women and children of Springfield from 1863 to 1928, when it was merged into the Children’s Service League. The gradual addition of other social service agencies ultimately led to formation of the Family … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Children, Social services, Springfield Survey, Women | 15 Comments

Colored Children’s Service Bureau

Posted on October 30, 2013 by editor

The Colored Children’s Service Bureau was formed to care for destitute black children in 1933, following the failure of Eva Carroll Monroe’s Lincoln Colored Home. Also see Home for the Friendless in this index and the Family Service Center’s online history.

Posted in African Americans, Children, Social services | Leave a comment

Desegregation of the Illinois State Armory

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Springfield journalist and activist Simeon Osby  (1909-93) was among a group of African Americans who forced indifferent white officials to open all seating areas in the Illinois State Armory to anyone. Previously, blacks had been relegated to upper areas of … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Amusements, Buildings, Ethnic groups, Journalism, Local government, Prominent figures, Sports and recreation | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

William Donnegan’s memoir of the Underground Railroad

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

William Donnegan, an 80-year-old Black cobbler and entrepreneur who was lynched during the Springfield Race Riot of 1908, earlier wrote a memoir about his role in helping an enslaved black woman travel through Springfield on her way to Canada in … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, African Americans, Ethnic groups, Law enforcement, Prominent figures, Race riot of 1908 | Tagged | Leave a comment

Col. Otis B. Duncan

Posted on October 29, 2013 by editor

Lt. Col. Otis B. Duncan (1873-1937) was the highest-ranking black officer to serve in the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe in World War I. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his war service. Duncan, who came from … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Military, Politics, Prominent figures, Race riot of 1908 | 1 Comment

Emancipation Day celebrations

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

The Slave Emancipation Act, which freed Britain’s slaves in the West Indies, went into effect on Aug. 1, 1834. Freedom wasn’t immediate unless a slave was younger than 6; others had to serve as unpaid apprentices to their former masters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, African Americans, Celebrations, Ethnic groups | Leave a comment

Federal court opinion on commission government (1987)

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

U.S. Judge Harold Baker ruled on Jan. 12, 1987, that the effect of commission government in the city of Springfield had been to “submerge” African Americans as a voting minority and had made it practically impossible for a black person … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Ethnic groups, Law enforcement, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Springfield | Leave a comment

William Fleurville (Florville)

Posted on October 27, 2013 by editor

William Fleurville (1807-1868) was a Haitian-born barber and businessman whose shop on Adams Street between Fifth and Sixth streets became a regular meeting place for Springfieldians, including Abraham Lincoln. The spelling of Fleurville’s last name is inconsistent; he often used … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Business, Early residents, Ethnic groups, Prominent figures | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

David Hammons (MacArthur Fellow)

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

David Hammons, born in Springfield in 1943, is an acclaimed New York-based artist, performance artist and sculptor who received a MacArthur Fellowship (sometimes called a “genius grant”) in 1991. According to artnet, “Hammons’s work speaks of cultural overtones; employing provocative materials … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts and letters, Prominent figures | Leave a comment