National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee
National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and The Lincoln Jubilee: 50th Anniversary Celebration
BeginsAugust 22, 1915
EndsSeptember 16, 1915
VenueChicago Coliseum
Location(s)Chicago, Illinois
CountryUnited States

The National Half Century Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee, was a festival from August 22 to September 16, 1915 held in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It celebrated the 50th anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Held at the Chicago Coliseum near Bronzeville[1] the exhibition was also known as the National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and The Lincoln Jubilee: 50th Anniversary Celebration.

History

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by United States president Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. A gathering was held in Chicago in 1911 and an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of emancipation was proposed.[2] It was originally planned for 1913 as the "Illinois (National) Half-Century Anniversary of Negro Freedom".[1]

Chicago Coliseum, 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago Coliseum at 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

Atlas Printing Co. published the official program.[1] The Fraternal Press in Chicago published a history and report on the event including the history of its establishment and photos of organizers that is available online.[2] The event's photographer, John H. Ballard, published a photo album covering the event in 1915.[3][4] It includes a leaf of music at its back titled "Praise God we are not weary" with words by Tom Brown, music by Tom Lemonier, and arranged by J. Wm. Coleman.[3] The album is viewable online.[5]

The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was established by a group of prominent attendees who met during the event. Four months later member Carter G. Woodson published the first issue of the Journal of Negro History.[6]

Chicago businessman Anthony Overton participated and promoted his skin care products at the event. He launched his Half-Century Magazine the following year.

The Library of Congress has a collection of Chicago Daily News photographs that includes images of the event.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Official program, National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and The Lincoln Jubilee: 50th anniversary celebration at the Coliseum, Wabash Ave. and fifteenth St., August 22 to September 16, nineteen hundred and fifteen. Atlas Printing Co. August 9, 1915. OCLC 270772483 – via Open WorldCat.
  2. 1 2 History And Report of the Exhibition and Celebration to Commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Emancipation of The Negro (PDF). Chicago, IL.: Fraternal Press. 1915. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  3. 1 2 "Lincoln jubilee album : 50th anniversary of our emancipation, held in Chicago August 22d to September 16th, 1915 / | The Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection". www.lincolncollection.org. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  4. ↑ Snyder, Jeffrey Aaron (February 1, 2018). Making Black History: The Color Line, Culture, and Race in the Age of Jim Crow. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 9780820351841. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2021 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Ballard, John H. (August 9, 1915). "Lincoln jubilee album : 50th anniversary of our emancipation, held in Chicago August 22d to September 16th, 1915". Chicago : [J.H. Ballard] – via Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "The Founding of the Association September 9, 1915". berea.edu. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Photographs from the Chicago Daily News, 1902-1933: Subjects: 195". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
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