38 Miles North and South from Chicago: African American History in Lake Forest and Joliet

In this presentation, the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff has partnered with Lewis University to showcase two distinct community experiences in African American communities, situated 38 miles north and 38 miles south of Chicago’s center, through a new museum exhibition called "38 Miles North and South from Chicago." Both communities began in the mid-1800s and were served by strong, self-supporting organizations, led from within the Black community.
The following panel discussion-moderated by History Center Executive Director Carol Summerfield-features guest speakers Dr. Dennis Cremin and Grant Student Coordinator Morgan Jennings of Lewis University, Dr. Courtney Joseph of Lake Forest College, and filmmaker Sue Lawson of Lake Forest.
African Americans called the Joliet region home before its incorporation in 1852. They built up the community, found jobs, and enjoyed life in the Des Plaines River Valley. In Lake Forest, the first families arrived from the south in the late 1860s. By 1900, the second police officer on the Lake Forest force was African American and numerous Black-owned businesses were thriving. Both cities saw the rise of strong Black community organizations, churches, and cultural centers that supported their residents and provided a foundation for the growing communities. In spite of this long history, Black communities have often been on the periphery of the local historical narratives. The museums and their partners have curated a collection of documents and materials, including organizational and family histories, papers, and images, that helped to inform the exhibition.