Pennant for the National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee held in Chicago, 1915.
Chicago: National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee, 1915. Felt pennant measuring 38 x 15 inches. Lettering slightly faded, very good condition overall. Item #List1003
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Lincoln’s death, the city of Chicago hosted the National Half Century Anniversary Exposition and Lincoln Jubilee, to celebrate emancipation and the cultural achievements of African-Americans. The event was held at the Coliseum on August 23 - September 22, 1915. The Illinois legislature appropriated $75,000 for the month-long celebration. Seventeen states appointed African American delegates to attend the event as representatives. Delegates from other countries participated as well. Bishop Samuel Fallows, the English-born clergyman and Union Army Colonel, spent a decade promoting and organizing the event, urging states such as New York to appoint representatives, and encouraging Chicago’s religious leaders to attend. Several hundred pastors from African-American churches did attend, along with members of their congregations, and most contemporary accounts of the jubilee advertise speeches by African-American religious leaders. Charles F. Gunther, a local candy manufacturer and collector of Lincoln memorabilia, lent his collection to the event (it was later purchased by the Chicago Historical Society). The event’s organizers anticipated close to half a million attendees. Though we find no record of actual attendance, contemporary reports show crowds of tens of thousands attending at a time.
The Colored Women’s Civic League closed the exposition with a ceremony involving children.
Despite the large undertaking and historical significance of the event, few relics of the exhibition have survived. OCLC lists two copies of the official program for the event. The official report of the event, History and Report of the Exhibition and Celebration to Commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Emancipation of the Negro, has around 20 holdings. We find no other record of this commemorative pennant, an unusual survival. Condition is very good, with some light wear.
Price: $1,200.00