Description:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FIRST RACE RIOT IN AMERICA
A very rare set of five real-photo postcards from the first race riot in American history that took place in Springfield, Ill. during the summer of 1908. The riot was sparked by the arrest of two black men who allegedly raped white women and, on Aug. 14, 1908, an angry mob of white citizens intent on revenge stormed the jail in which the suspects were confined. When the mob learned that the sheriff had moved the two suspects to a black section of Springfield, it proceeded there and burned homes and business. A fragile peace was restored the following day after five thousand National Guardsmen were called in, but shortly thereafter a new mob was formed who then murdered and lynched an elderly black man. In the wake of this new violence, 64 homes and businesses were ruined and seven people confirmed dead. The terrible ending to this first race riot became the godfather of nearly thirty more such devastating riots between 1908 and 1921. Included in this lot are five sepia silver print postcards titled "Springfield Race War Aug. '08" and the like, with one showing the National Guard encamped on a city street with debris and clothing strewn in the foreground; another shows a burned-out building on East Madison street near the train tracks, with armed guardsmen standing by. A third is titled "Wrecked Negro Quarters - Springfield Aug. 08", and shows a demolished building with an armed guard marching by. A fourth shows an encampment of rows and rows of tents erected in a field and soldiers in the foreground, with the title: "Springfield Race Riot War Co. G 1st Regt. Going to Mess", and the final shows the wrecked building of "White Dental Parlors", mostly likely located in the black business community now known as the Levee, with a destroyed car on the sidewalk surrounded by white bystanders who stare belligerently at the camera. Black mounting traces to verso from removal from a photograph album, otherwise very good condition.

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October 9, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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