Throughout the ages, girls and women have been told their hair is their crowning glory. It's the first thing most people notice about women and is used as a measuring stick for our character and personality. Cosmetology was one of the few careers open to Black men and women in the early 20th century, and…
Illinois Writers Project, Hall Branch Digital Collections Document Early Black History in Chicago
Chicago Public Library has digitized materials from two significant archival collections documenting the migration and growth of Chicago's African American community. These collections also shed light on the Chicago Black Renaissance (1930s-1950). Available online for the first time are: George Cleveland Hall Branch Digital Collection contains over 150 items documenting the opening and operations of…
Beyond Borders in the Archives: Era Bell Thompson
Beyond Borders in the Archives is a series that explores the Chicago Public Library archives and special collections and uncovers treasures! This series was produced as part of the 2020 One Book, One Chicago season. Era Bell Thompson Chicago Public Library senior archivist Beverly Cook shares the life story of Era Bell Thompson with books…
CPL Librarian Charlemae Hill Rollins Championed African Americans in Children’s Literature
As an African American librarian at Chicago Public Library for more than 30 years and a leader in children's literature and librarianship, Charlemae Hill Rollins championed the creation of well-written children’s literature free of racial and ethnic distortions. She played a critical role in changing the image of the African American in children’s literature, writing…
Chicago Race Riots: The Long Hot Summer of 1919
The sky was a searing hot blue with temperatures in the 90s. Farmers anxiously watched for signs of healing rain for their dry crops. As school was out, teenagers hung out at the beach for relaxation. Eugene Williams and four of his friends were relaxing on a raft at the 27th Street beach when his…
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