Frederick Douglass Archives - Chicago's 1893 Worlds Fair

Jan. 28-Nov. 1, 2022: “No Compact of Silence” exhibit (Indianapolis)
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Jan. 28-Nov. 1, 2022: “No Compact of Silence” exhibit (Indianapolis)

EVENTS (past), EXHIBITS (past)

Jan. 28-Nov. 1, 2022: “No Compact of Silence” exhibit (Indianapolis)

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis has a new special exhibit highlighting national and local Black civil rights activists during President Benjamin Harrison’s term in office (1889–1893). “No ‘Compact of Silence’: Black Civil Rights Advocates in the Harrison Era” explores the complex dynamics of race in late 19th century America, including the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Prominent individuals who will be featured include Frederick Douglass and Ida B. Wells. April 1890, President Harrison officially signed an [...]

By Scott|2022-11-11T09:05:02-06:00January 17th, 2022|Categories: EVENTS (past), EXHIBITS (past)|Tags: Benjamin Harrison, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells|0 Comments

“Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” Video
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“Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” Video

NEWS, VIDEO

“Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” Video

The Obama Foundation has released a five-minute video titled “Celebrating the Black History of Jackson Park” that features the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Introduced by President Obama, the video touches upon the Haitian Pavilion, Frederick Douglass, and “Colored Peoples Day” with historical perspectives from Chicago History Museum Assistant Curator Julius Jones, Associate Professor of History at the University of Chicago Adam Green, and President of the Jackson Park Advisory Council Louise McCurry.

By Scott|2020-02-29T15:10:28-06:00February 29th, 2020|Categories: NEWS, VIDEO|Tags: Colored People Day, Frederick Douglass, Haiti Building|0 Comments

WGN-TV Documentary Explores “Hidden History” of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Fair
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WGN-TV Documentary Explores “Hidden History” of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Fair

NEWS, VIDEO

WGN-TV Documentary Explores “Hidden History” of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Fair

In honor of Black History Month WGN-TV aired a new half-hour documentary show titled “Hidden History” that included a segment on the experience of African Americans at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. WGN News anchor Micah Materre opened the six-minute segment reminding viewers that “African Americans have a long and storied history in Chicago,” with one important moment of African Americans influence on the world taking place in and around the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago’s Jackson Park. Historian [...]

By Scott|2020-02-28T13:35:03-06:00February 29th, 2020|Categories: NEWS, VIDEO|Tags: Colored People Day, Ferris Wheel, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells|0 Comments

“Frederick Douglass’s Defiant Stand at Chicago’s World’s Fair”
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“Frederick Douglass’s Defiant Stand at Chicago’s World’s Fair”

HISTORY

“Frederick Douglass’s Defiant Stand at Chicago’s World’s Fair”

February 14 is often listed as the birthday of Frederick Douglass, who late in life served as the Commissioner of the Haitian Republic. Daniel Hautzinger writes in “Frederick Douglass's Defiant Stand at Chicago's World's Fair” (WTTW, February 14, 2018) that “Frederick Douglass never knew the date of his own birth, or even how old he was … But the famous abolitionist and orator eventually chose to celebrate his birthday on February 14, determining that he was probably born 200 [...]

By Scott|2019-01-26T18:24:29-06:00February 14th, 2019|Categories: HISTORY|Tags: Frederick Douglass|0 Comments

Columbian Exposition Books from 2018
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Columbian Exposition Books from 2018

FICTION, PRODUCTS, RESEARCH

Columbian Exposition Books from 2018

The 125th anniversary year of the World’s Columbian Exposition offered scholarship, images, and fiction relating to the World’s Fair in several new publications in 2018. Pioneers of Promotion: How Press Agents for Buffalo Bill, P. T. Barnum, and the World’s Columbian Exposition Created Modern Marketing by Joe Dobrow. University of Oklahoma Press. Communications professional and business history writer Joe Dobrow traces the origins of modern American marketing by shining the spotlight on three men: pioneers of promotion John M. [...]

By Scott|2023-12-08T08:39:45-06:00January 5th, 2019|Categories: FICTION, PRODUCTS, RESEARCH|Tags: Buffalo Bill, Daniel Burnham, Devil in the White City (book), Frederick Douglass, Frederick Law Olmsted, Ho-o-den, Ida B. Wells, Jackson Park, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Moses P. Handy|0 Comments

Feb. 13, 2019: “The Black Presence at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893” Newberry Seminar (Chicago)
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Feb. 13, 2019: “The Black Presence at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893” Newberry Seminar (Chicago)

EVENTS (past)

Feb. 13, 2019: “The Black Presence at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893” Newberry Seminar (Chicago)

Chicago’s Newberry Library will offer a six-week seminar on “The Black Presence at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893,” to be held from 5:45-7:45 pm on Wednesdays starting on February 13 and ending on March 20, 2019. Led by Christopher Reed, Professor Emeritus of History at Roosevelt University, the seminar examines the role of African Americans in the World’s Fair with the aim of questioning the narrative established by the pamphlet The Reason Why the Colored American Is Not [...]

By Scott|2022-10-17T08:58:06-05:00December 17th, 2018|Categories: EVENTS (past)|Tags: Christopher Reed, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Newberry Library|0 Comments

Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds
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Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 12: Tour of the Fairgrounds

Tour of the Fairgrounds This is Part 12 of our series “Opening Day of the World’s Fair,” which explores the events of May 1, 1893, at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The full series can be found here. After the “Banquet of Nations” luncheon, President Cleveland and his entourage embarked on a whirlwind tour of the Columbian Exposition grounds and buildings. They departed from the north entrance of the Administration Building where carriages were waiting. “President Cleveland [...]

Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity
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Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity

OPENING DAY

Opening Day, Part 3: A Sea of Humanity

A Sea of Humanity This is Part 3 of our series “Opening Day of the World’s Fair,” which explores the events of May 1, 1893, at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The full series can be found here. As the procession of the President of the United States began its march south on Michigan Avenue, thousands of people in downtown Chicago began forming their own spontaneous parade to the World’s Fair. Everyone on West Madison Street and North [...]

Chicago History Museum WCE display updated
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Chicago History Museum WCE display updated

EXHIBITS (current), NEWS

Chicago History Museum WCE display updated

The World's Columbian Exposition exhibit at the Chicago History Museum The Chicago History Museum blog post "New Additions to an Old Favorite" reports that the museum's permanent exhibition Chicago: Crossroads of America made some updates this past summer to the section on the 1893 World's Fair, including: an expanded section on activist and author Ida B. Wells, showing her 1893 pamphlet “The Reason Why The Colored American Is Not in the World’s Columbian Exposition,” a new video that includes excerpts from [...]

By Scott|2023-11-04T19:07:04-05:00October 30th, 2017|Categories: EXHIBITS (current), NEWS|Tags: Chicago History Museum, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells|0 Comments