Items

Explore individual items gathered for collections and exhibits centered around particular themes, people, places, or events.

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  Silent Protest parade on Fifth Avenue, New York City, July 28, 1917, in response to the East St. Louis race riot

  In front row are James Weldon Johnson (far right), W. E. B. DuBois (2nd from right), Rev. Hutchens Chew Bishop, rector of St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Harlem) and realtor John E. Nail
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  "Hotel DeBreeze." Abandoned house covered with graffiti by Co. K, Second Illinois National Guard. Destruction likely occurred during the East St. Louis race riot.

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing discontented messages written on the second floor of an unidentified house. Some signs read: "People take this as a joke. What we need is a box of soap. We left our girls in that great big town. We wonder who's with them, we ain't around. We came down here to stop the riot. All we do is walk up and down all night. This place looks like a grave. Who will donate us a shave. We admit this is a show. But that don't get us no dough." "Our bath tub" is written on a pitcher, and "Roof garden" is written above a box of wilted plants. Other signs are written around a window, and pieces of broken glass are scattered in front of it. This image is a detail of image 7935. Several related images show the house from various angles and include signs identifying the authors of the graffiti as soldiers from Company K, of the Second Illinois National Guard. Company K was sent to East St. Louis to respond to the East St. Louis race riots of July 1917, and this photograph likely shows destruction in the aftermath of the violence.
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  "Hotel DeBreeze." Abandoned house covered with graffiti by Co. K, Second Illinois National Guard. Destruction likely occurred during the East St. Louis race riot.

  Horizontal, black and white photograph of a two-story sided building writing on the first and second levels. The backside of the roof and residence are missing and the windows have been broken out. Company K was sent to East St. Louis to respond to the East St. Louis race riots of July 1917, and this photograph likely shows destruction in the aftermath of the violence.
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  "Hotel DeBreeze." Abandoned house covered with graffiti by Co. K, Second Illinois National Guard. Destruction likely occurred during the East St. Louis race riot.

  Horizontal, black and white photograph of a two-story sided building writing on the first and second levels. "Hotel De Breeze" is written above the gingerbread trim on the front porch. Two men sit on the front porch and a man stands on the left side. Company K was sent to East St. Louis to respond to the East St. Louis race riots of July 1917, and this photograph likely shows destruction in the aftermath of the violence.
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  "Hotel DeBreeze." Abandoned house covered with graffiti by Co. K, Second Illinois National Guard. Destruction likely occurred during the East St. Louis race riot.

  Horizontal, black and white photograph of a two-story sided building with writing on both levels of the front and side. "Hotel De Breeze" is written above the gingerbread trim on the front porch and the back roof and back of the building is missing. Company K was sent to East St. Louis to respond to the East St. Louis race riots of July 1917, and this photograph likely shows destruction in the aftermath of the violence.
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  2 Negroes Slain By East St. Louis Mob; Dozen Others Hurt

  Black Passengers Dragged From Cars and Stoned Despite Patrol of Four Militia Companies With Fixed Bayonets - Two Outbreaks Today Follow Killing of [Detective] Last Night.
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  Negroes Leaving East St. Louis Under Protection of Militiamen

  SEVERAL HUNDRED NEGROES BROUGHT ACROSS THE RIVER - Party of Men, Women and Chil-dren Escorted to West End of Eads Bridge. - SOME THROW AWAY ARMS - Municipal Lodging House Used for Temporary Care of the Refugees.
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  Post-Dispatch Man, An Eye-Witness, Describes Massacre of Negroes

  Victims Driven From Home by Fire, Stoned, Beaten and Hanged When Dying-Women Fight Militiamen and Assist in Work.
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  100 Negros Shot, Burned, Clubbed to Death in E. St. Louis Race War

  Riot at Its Height Near Broadway and Fourth as Sketched by Artist Russell
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  Inquest is Opened in East St. Louis Race Riot Cases

  Date Advance Said to Be Due to the Discovery of Important New Evidence. - CITY LIABLE FOR DEATHS - Only Five Out of 400 Blacks Invited to Return to Their Jobs Consent to Do So.
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  Protest Against Race Riots

  New York Negroes to Hold Silent Parade Saturday - Some Whites Will Participate.
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  WHAT ROOSEVELT SAID!

  Carnegie Hall in Uproar as Colonel Accuses Labor Leader of Justifying Murder in East St. Louis Race Riots - Exclaims Later: "I Wish I Could Get My Hands on Him.
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  President Wilson Denies Negros a Conference

  L. C. Dyer Makes Effort To Have Him Receive Committee With Petition Of 15,000 Names Begging That Lynchings and Race Riot Incitement Be Made Federal Offenses. "Too Busy On Business Of Paramount Impor. tance," Says Secretary.
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  Aloe Charges East St. Louis is Lax in Riot

  Acting Mayor of St. Louis Says Over the River' Authorities Are Inefficient in Handling of Race War.
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  Defendants Deny They Took Part In Race Riot Murders

  Defense Rests Its Case at Belle-ville After the Three Accused Take Stand.
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  Newspaper Reporters Are Barred from East St. Louis Inquest Into Race Rioting

  Article detailing censoring of the East St. Louis Race Riots in newspapers and theaters for Grand Jury Inquiry.
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  100 Slain and 500 Hurt in East St. Louis Race Riot

  For some time there has been a race riot brewing in East St. Louis and Monday night it came to a head when a mob of blood-mad men and women wreaked vengeance on the negro popula-tion of that city. Six East St. Louis blocks, mostly negro-shacks were set on fire and burned. Negroes were beaten burned, shot and drowned by the enraged mob. Approximately 100 are dead including those burned in their homes, shot and drowned. It is the worst outbreak of a race riot in the Nation's history. It must have been a horrible scene, and let' hope that there will not be another one like it in this country.
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  Riot A National Disgrace

  East St. Louis Shrouds Country In Shame. Mob Commits Most Atrocious Crimes On Innocent Negroes While Police and Militiamen Look On With Apathy. President Called On To Stop Mob Violence. War Department Asked To Take Hand In Investigation.
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  Fire near the East St. Louis Public Library at Eighth Street and Broadway during the race riot
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  Constable on a horse during the East St. Louis race riots

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a constable on a horse during the East St. Louis race riots. The horse has stopped on the sidewalk in front of the Daniel E. Skudwick Drugstore, and several men are walking through the foreground. A partially legible caption is written in pencil on the back of the photograph.
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  Crowd stopping streetcars at Collinsville Avenue and Broadway during the East St. Louis race riots

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a crowd stopping streetcars at Collinsville Avenue and Broadway during the East St. Louis race riots. A caption attached to the photograph reads: "State Troops Establish Order in East St. Louis after Furious Riots. The photo shows the crowd stopping streetcars at Collinsville Avenue and Broadway, East St. Louis, where they hauled off and massacred passengers. The militia after steady and effective work quelled the rioters, but it was a hard task. 2000 Guardsmen patrol the streets today although comparative quiet reign. 7/5/17."
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  Victim of the East St. Louis race riots

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a victim of the East St. Louis race riots. A caption attached to the photograph reads: "Photo shows incident in East St. Louis Riots. A victim of the mob lying in Collinsville Avenue, East St. Louis. A Policeman is shown holding the leader of the rioters as militia-men keep back the crowds. To the left can be seen an ambulance arriving on the scene. 2000 Illinois National Guards are patrolling the city now, preserving order. 7/5/17."
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  Group of African American men reporting property losses around time of 1917 Race Riot in East St. Louis

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a large open room where a group of African Americans, mostly men, There is a large central aisle in the room. Along the left side men are standing in a line, in the center people are exiting the room, and along the right side people are seated or waiting. There are some signs posted on poles in the room reading "Report Property Losses Here", "Housing Con[ditions]", and "Employment." The photograph was possibly taken at the Municipal Lodging House (110 South 12th Street).
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  Group Of African American Men Reporting Property Losses Around Time Of 1917 Race Riot in East St. Louis

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a large open room where a group of African Americans, mostly men, There is a large central aisle in the room. Along the left side men are standing in a line, in the center people are exiting the room, and along the right side people are seated or waiting. There are some signs posted on poles in the room reading "Report Property Losses Here", "Housing Con[ditions]", and "Employment." The photograph was possibly taken at the Municipal Lodging House (110 South 12th Street).
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  Victim of the East St. Louis Race Riots

  Horizontal, black and white photograph showing a victim of the East St. Louis race riots. A caption attached to the photograph reads: "Photo shows incident in East St. Louis Riots. A victim of the mob lying in Collinsville Avenue, East St. Louis. A Policeman is shown holding the leader of the rioters as militia-men keep back the crowds. To the left can be seen an ambulance arriving on the scene. 2000 Illinois National Guards are patrolling the city now, preserving order. 7/5/17."