1908 Springfield Race Riot Monument – Springfield, Illinois

 

Reinterpretation and Monument of Reconciliation Frameworks. Explore definitions here.

Introduction

The objective of this case study was to gain insights into the historical, national, and local contexts surrounding the 1908 Race Riot Monument proposed for oversight by the National Park Service in Springfield, Illinois. The primary aim was to develop a deeper comprehension of the community’s motivations and sentiments regarding the site. This case study hopes to contribute to conversations regarding monuments as a site of healing and racial reconciliation. At the time of writing, the National Park Service (NPS) manages 425 sites with a very small portion of those, 32 sites, being dedicated to African American heritage and history (National Park Service 2023). History was made when, in July of 2023, NPS announced the creation of three National Monument sites to honor Emmett Till. The 1908 Race Riot Monument would be a site of equal national importance. The abhorrent events that occurred at the site directly influenced the creation of the civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Furthermore, the monument would stand as the first within the NPS system to acknowledge the dark history of lynching. The effort to establish the 1908 monument in Springfield, under the management of the NPS, has been notably bipartisan, garnering widespread community support. Springfield serves as a remarkable case study of a site of conscience, illustrating how communities can bravely confront their difficult histories by illuminating the past, thereby paving the way towards a more honest future. At the time of writing, the proposed site had been recommended by NPS and was awaiting formal creation/approval by Congress. On August 16, 2024, President Joe Biden established the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument by presidential proclamation under the authority of the Antiquities Act.  

Section 1: Background  

Situated in Sangamon County, central Illinois, Springfield holds significant importance for the state due to several key reasons: (1) it serves as the state capital, (2) it ranks as the third largest city in Illinois, and (3) it proudly stands as the hometown of the United States’ 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. The latter point is especially crucial to Springfield’s identity, as the city has flourished with a thriving tourism industry centered around all aspects of Lincoln’s life.

Tourists have an abundance of sites to explore, such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, the Lincoln Tomb, and the Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center. Moreover, they can also visit significant locations like the Illinois State Capitol, the Old State Capitol, the Illinois State Library, the Illinois State Military Museum, and the Illinois State Museum, each preserving the profound legacy of Lincoln throughout history. Additionally, various walking and biking tours, both self-guided and docent-led, offer enriching experiences for visitors.

Notably, President Lincoln earned the title “great emancipator” for his pivotal role in signing the Emancipation Proclamation during the American Civil War. His lasting legacy remains a source of immense pride and a driving force for revenue in present-day Springfield. In an irony that is not lost on modern day Springfieldians, historically, this same legacy drew Black residents to the city before the events of 1908. Seeking economic opportunities and safety for their families, Black folks migrated from the South to Lincoln’s hometown, viewing it as a promising place to realize their dreams. 

The tragic events that occurred during the summer of 1908 (further detailed below) are not a source of pride for Springfield; however, they form an integral part of the city’s history. At the time of writing this report, the main commemorations for the 1908 events include the 1908 Race Riot Mural, located within Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) St. John’s Hospital Women & Children’s Clinic, and the Acts of Intolerance statue in Union Square.

Moreover, there are two walking tours available for visitors: one is a self-guided tour with year-round plaque markers, and the other is a docent-led walking tour conducted by State Historic Sites in Springfield. Additionally, the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum (AAHM), houses an exhibit on 1908. This exhibit was initially created by curator and historian Carole Merritt for the 2008 centennial exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield.

1.1. The Proposed NPS Site

As a component of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project in 2013, Fever River Research, led by archaeologists Floyd Mansberger and Chris Stratton, was enlisted to evaluate a segment of the planned rail corridor for potential cultural resources. Subsequently, in 2014, Fever River released their report, identifying two areas of cultural significance, with one of them encompassing a neighborhood, called the “Badlands” in 1908, associated with mob violence during the events of 1908. By fall of that year they were able to begin digging. As Floyd recalled: “The house foundations intact, burn deposits there…you had post-fire capping, fire deposits and pre-fire deposits going back to the 1840’s when the houses were built. It just has remarkable integrity” (Azmy July 10, 2023).

Over the course of several months the site was excavated and documented. Artifacts were put into the care of the Illinois State Museum. Following the evaluation, the five house sites were deemed eligible for inclusion in the National Register, therefore community discussions with relevant stakeholders had to be pursued. Fever River was engaged as a consultant in that process. The archaeological research revealed that the site holds significance not only at the local level, contributing to the history of Springfield, but also at the national level due to its connection with the 1908 Race Riots – a pivotal event that led to the establishment of the NAACP. By 2018 the rail project had been shifted to the east in an effort to preserve as much of the site as possible.  

In 2018, Rodney Davis, a state representative from Illinois’ 13th district, made a request for the NPS to conduct a survey of the 1908 archaeological site. Subsequently, in 2019, the NPS commenced their work, carrying out a reconnaissance survey followed by a special resources study in 2022. A special resource study aims to assess whether a site meets specific criteria for inclusion in the national park system, which includes considerations of national significance, suitability, feasibility, and the need for direct management by the NPS (National Park Service 2019).

Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth introduced legislation in 2019 to establish the site as a national monument, actively supporting Springfield’s efforts to advance the site’s recognition. On June 13th, 2023, the NPS issued a press release announcing the delivery of the special resource study to Congress, initiating the next step in the process.

1.2. Establishment of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument 

President Joe Biden issued a presidential proclamation on August 16, 2024, establishing the 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument which removed the need to wait for congressional confirmation. To be established by presidential proclamation, “an area must meet the criteria of the Antiquities Act (54 U.S.C § 320301), including having objects of historic or scientific interest located on land already owned or controlled by the federal government” (NPS 2024). The presidential proclamation states: 

Today, the foundations of destroyed homes and the objects they contain are tangible markers of these historic events and reminders of the impact that the Springfield 1908 Race Riot had on our nation…This site weaves together two important threads in our Nation’s story: the hateful violence targeted against Black Americans, and the power of dedicated individuals to come together across racial lines to transform shock and grief into hope and action… This area and the archaeological artifacts it contains have a singular ability to tell the story of the race riot and its impacts on Black residents at this pivotal point in Springfield and the Nation’s history… [the proclamation] will also ensure that the site and its object remain available for future generations to learn about the Springfield 1908 Race Riot and how this brutal event near President Lincoln’s home underscored the pattern of racially motivated violence perpetrated on Black people throughout the country and catalyzed the formation of the NAACP (Biden 2024).

At the time of writing, the site lies between the railroad and the HSHS St. John’s parking lot. The site has since been filled in, it remains a humble strip of land, concealed by overgrown wildflowers and grass. 

1.3. Historical Context

There are few easily available published works on the Springfield 1908 Race Riots. The seminal work on the subject is historian Dr. Roberta de la Roche Senechal’s 1990 book, The Sociogenesis of a Race Riot: Springfield, Illinois in 1908. The events of the 1908 Race Riots were relatively well-documented, particularly in newspapers of that era. However, it is worth noting that yellow journalism was prevalent during that time, which might have affected the accuracy and objectivity of some reporting. Despite this, historical records and newspaper accounts remain essential resources for understanding the riot’s impact on Springfield and the broader historical context of race relations in the United States. 

In 1905, the state of Illinois passed an act that made mob violence and lynching a felony. However, in the coming years the state would see some of the most violent race riots in United States history; 1908 in Springfield, 1917 in East St. Louis and the 1919 Chicago riots. During this period, Springfield experienced rapid growth, attracting newcomers, including Black residents. The city’s white population perceived them as a threat to their economic and political stability, leading to racial tensions and discrimination (National Park Service 2023, 8).  

The 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois, was a tragic and violent episode that unfolded between August 14th and 16th of that year. The mob violence was focused on two majority Black neighborhoods, called, at the time, the Levee and the Badlands. The areas were targeted due to “the diversity of class and race in the Levee and the Badlands [which] made it a vibrant and complex section of the city but it also opened it up to misunderstanding and attack…the mix of class and race and legitimate and illicit activities in the Levee and the Badlands [was] leveraged by those who resented the thriving Black community in the city” (National Park Service 2023, 9). Ultimately, the destruction of these neighborhoods would be unjustly blamed on the residents themselves. This misguided notion would be echoed in newspapers and public officials’ statements that suggested that the neighborhoods somehow deserved their fate and that burning them was ultimately beneficial for the city as a whole. Such scapegoating perpetuated a harmful narrative that disregarded the underlying issues and hardships faced by the affected communities, further compounding the tragedy of the violence.

The events were set off by false accusations against two Black men, Joe James and George Richardson. James, who was riding the rails north seeking work, was wrongfully charged with the murder of a white Springfield resident, Clergy Ballard. Richardson, a resident of Springfield, was falsely accused of sexual assault by a white woman, Mabel Hallam, even though he was working at a nearby building during the alleged attack. She later recanted her accusation. 

Mabel Hallam’s accusation of rape against a Black man in the context of the Springfield 1908 Race Riots represents a disturbing tactic that has been historically employed to fuel racial tensions and perpetuate stereotypes. This tactic involves falsely attributing criminal acts, particularly heinous ones like sexual assault, to individuals of a particular race or ethnicity in order to stir fear, hatred, and animosity towards that group. Such baseless accusations play into existing racial prejudices, stoking the flames of racial discrimination and violence. In the case of Mabel Hallam’s allegation, it served as a catalyst for the mob’s actions, providing them with a perceived justification for attacking the Black community. Present day dangerous speech scholar Susan Benesch categorizes this type of accusation as a powerful type of rhetoric used to incite violence. Benesch’s model shows that accusations of violence towards women and girls are often used against minority groups leading up to genocidal violence (Benesch 2018).

The match had been set. As news of the alleged assaults spread, a mob of mostly young white men gathered outside the county jail, demanding the lynching of James and Richardson. Fearing for the safety of the inmates, the county sheriff decided to move them to a jail in Bloomington with the help of a white businessman named Harry Loper. It should be noted that the sheriff took this action to comply with the aforementioned lynching law rather than out of the personal inclination. When the mob learned of the transfer, they turned their anger towards Loper’s restaurant, looting and setting it on fire (Senechal 1990, 28-29).

Meanwhile, a crowd of white rioters targeted the Levee commercial district along Washington Street between 7th and 9th Streets. Fueled by racist and anti-Semitic beliefs, they aimed to punish Jewish store owners for serving Black customers, and thus, both Jewish-owned and Black-owned businesses became their targets. By this time, most Black residents had either fled the town or sought refuge elsewhere, finding shelter with sympathetic white people or at designated government shelters like Camp Lincoln, the Illinois State Arsenal, and the governor’s mansion. 

Some Black residents who remained in the Levee district defended their property from the mob by taking positions in second-floor apartments and firing shots to fend off the rioters. It is important to note that the Black community did not remain passive during these horrific events but instead organized a resistance to protect themselves and their neighborhoods. Black firefighters at Firehouse No. 5 fought to save Black homes and businesses, despite being forbidden from putting out fires in Black neighborhoods (National Park Service 2023, 13). However, despite their efforts, the rioters retaliated, returning fire and looting most of the stores in the area. The mob continued their destructive spree for nearly two hours, targeting Jewish and Black owned businesses and residences (National Park Service 2023, 11-12).

Around 2:00 a.m., rioters targeted the home of Scott Burton, a Black barber who had stayed behind to protect his property. As the mob approached his house, Burton fired his shotgun twice into the crowd before trying to escape through his backyard. The rioters spotted Burton attempting to flee and brutally beat him. They dragged his lifeless body into the street and hung him from a tree. The mob continued to desecrate his body and took souvenirs from the tree. Around 2:30 a.m., militia reinforcements arrived, bringing an end to the first day of violence (National Park Service 2023, 13).

On the second day of the riot, more of the state militia arrived and designated the state arsenal as a shelter for Black residents. The violence reignited that evening, with a mob targeting William Donnegan, a retired shoemaker in his eighties who was known for making shoes for Abraham Lincoln and serving as an Underground Railroad operative. It is speculated that Donnegan was targeted by the mob due to his wealth and his marriage to a white woman. The mob dragged Donnegan from his home and beat him. He died from his injuries soon after. 

These events demonstrate that the riot’s primary impetus was not solely the alleged injustice to Mabel Hallam but rather a deep-seated rage against groups perceived as social outsiders and inferiors, threatening the established social order. The rioters’ actions reflected a disturbing pattern of discrimination and hostility towards marginalized communities, especially the Black community and other minority groups. According to Senechal (1990) “during the two days of rioting, two blacks died, at least twenty-one black businesses sustained damage, and over forty black families were left homeless…research yielded the names of a total of 83 black victims, including the two men who were lynched and twelve others who were injured” (130). 

The Springfield 1908 race riot had a profound impact on the city’s Black community as well as local and national race relations. The incident highlighted deep-seated racial tensions and discrimination, leading to significant social and political consequences. It also drew national attention. The formation of the NAACP was a direct response to the racial violence perpetrated in Springfield in 1908. 

Springfield has not always been so keen to face its past. It wasn’t until the 1990s when two school children pushed for this difficult history to be taught again in public schools. Community historian Alvera Knox, who was a part of the initial committee put together to address this issue wrote about these events as follows for the local newspaper,

In the spring of 1991, Lindsay Harney and Amanda Staab, students at Iles School, did a history project on the race riot. Learning that there was no memorial or marker to commemorate the riot, they circulated a petition among their classmates and presented it to the city council to urge them to correct this situation. Subsequently, a city ordinance was passed creating the Historical Events Memorial Marker Committee, which was charged with developing ways to memorialize the riot.

In December 1992, the committee, in conjunction with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Illinois State Historical Society, presented ‘Race and Politics in Springfield: A Symposium Commemorating the Springfield Race Riot of 1908.’ 

In 1993 and 1994, the committee worked on the design and placement of eight markers, which constitute a walking tour of significant locations in the riot. These are the same markers that are visited after the end of each of the Springfield Ministerial Alliance’s monthly reconciliation assemblies. By September 1994, the markers had been installed, and the committee held a dedication ceremony at Union Station for the 1908 Race Riot Walking Tour (Knox 2008). 

Since the 1990s Springfield has been on this journey of reckoning with its history. This latest movement to build a 1908 monument is a part of that long arc.

Section 2: Overview of Major Stakeholders and Involved Parties

It is no small task to conceptualize, much less create, a monument. The following is an overview of the major stakeholders and involved parties in the proposed 1908 monument site, their role in the project, and their vision for the monument’s future. 

2.1. National Park Service Staff

Alan Spears, Senior Director of Cultural Resources in the Government Affairs Department of the National Park Service, describes one of few concerns about the project at large. It is important to note that he does not question if the project should occur, but rather expresses that there are particular challenges that arise when thinking about how to move forward with a site of this type. Spear’s concerns are not unique. He states, 

I don’t know how you do interpretation of stuff that’s no longer on the landscape. The whole point of a racial pogrom is to destroy people and to destroy communities. So how do you commemorate a town that is no longer there? You can do an archeological survey and you can pull some things out of the ground that point to a presence. How do you interpret that? What does it mean? And I haven’t seen studies on how you interpret stuff that is absent from the landscape, that’s been deliberately taken out of the landscape. If you look at something like Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, you still have Kelly Ingram Park where the marchers were attacked by police, you still have the 16th Street Baptist Church that was bombed by the Klan. If you go to a place like Gettysburg you still have the ridges and the stone fences where the troops were set up. If you go to the Stonewall Inn in Lower Manhattan the bar is still there. I have an understanding about how you interpret stuff that’s there. So I see some challenges. 

Because the Park Service, from a funding and a staffing level, they don’t necessarily have the people to do a Springfield and a Tulsa and an East St. Louis and a D.C. and a Chicago. So it might have to be a one and done. But that one [race riot site] is going to have to encompass a much larger story. And then the big thing that I would like to see that would make me much more comfortable is backing off this notion that the history of this country is exclusively black and white. Racial violence has impacted men and women of all shapes and sizes. I want a conversation about that before we just close the door. 

I think the country owes us [Black Americans] a much more accurate rendering of its history. And if you do that, if you include places like Springfield, Illinois, you can’t help but come to the conclusion that this country has a race problem. And that is something we are still grappling with to this day. You don’t burn down entire communities of people if you think they are equal human beings. This fits into the Park Service telling all of America’s stories, but then also maybe being the leading advocate for telling some of these harder stories, these harder truths. And doing so in collaboration with the descendant communities and the people that actually lived this history so that we get a better understanding of who we are, where we came from, and what we’ve got to keep our eyes out for (Azmy 2023).

Spears references a type of site known as a landscape of erasure, a place where there is nothing left and that was the intention. The site of the racial violence perpetrated in Springfield in 1908 is a landscape of erasure. Spears is right to point out that these sites pose a particularly difficult and nuanced task for interpreters given that there is no history left to see and touch. This is a considerable task that Springfield will continue to grapple with as plans progress. 

Tokey Boswell, an Associate Regional Director for Facilities, Planning & Infrastructure with NPS, played a crucial role in the reconnaissance survey and served as the NPS lead for the 2023 Special Resource Survey in Springfield. Drawing a comparison to other cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Elaine, Arkansas, which faced significant community pushback while addressing their difficult race riot histories, Boswell highlighted Springfield’s remarkable openness to sharing its story.

I have been incredibly impressed with my time in Springfield for the last five years of just how open the city has become to sharing that story. I think a lot of it is the groundwork that the city had already laid.

In the comments that the National Park Service received throughout the study, I think there were only maybe two out of five-thousand that had anything [negative]. That was a pretty impressive outpouring. It was pretty much a slam dunk when you have that kind of great community cohesion.

I think that dialogue is ongoing and the comments that we received both at the public meeting and through our online comment period were almost universal in this is a story that should be told, it’s hard to tell, but Springfield is ready to tell it. The NAACP is here to tell it. You can tell the emancipation story and the race riots story in the same city (Azmy 2023).

When asked about the potential concern that the site is a landscape of erasure, and therefore nothing remains there for visitors to see from the past, he said:

I didn’t hear that concern expressed very much by the partners or by the public that we interacted with. I think the story is so well known that they were ready to see it told at the site, this site that has the closest connection. Internally, the National Park Service and our leadership group, we did discuss that. What does it really look like? How does it really work for visitors? The NAACP memorial design was really instructive and helpful for some of that conversation” (Azmy 2023).

During this research, Tim Good, the Superintendent of the NPS Lincoln Home site, provided valuable insights regarding the discussion on “is there enough there there?” Among the NPS staff interviewed, Good was the only one permanently stationed in Springfield. He emphasized two tools Springfield can utilize to tell the story of its landscape of erasure: (1) leveraging evolving technology for interpreting difficult histories and (2) recognizing that landscapes of erasure can speak volumes on their own.

In relation to the first point, Good highlighted the potential of Virtual Reality (VR) technology, suggesting that advancements in this area could enable visitors to use their cellphones to view digital reconstructions of the pre-destruction neighborhood. Such an immersive tool would offer a powerful glimpse into the past, allowing guests to witness the stark contrast between what was and what the destruction left behind. Good revealed that work is underway to explore the use of such technology for the 1908 site.

Regarding the second point, Good pointed out that landscapes of erasure are already present in the NPS system, and they have successfully drawn crowds and provided meaningful interpretation, as seen in the case of battlefields. These sites, despite lacking physical remnants, effectively communicate the historical significance and stories associated with the events that unfolded there. And while the 1908 site is not a battlefield, Good believes the same principles are in play stating, “sometimes nothing actually says something. Because it was burned, it is significant” (Azmy 2023). The absence of the community is the resource that needs protecting, it is a reminder that the past is not so distant. 

2.2. Springfield Branch of the NAACP

Teresa Haley, President of the Springfield Branch of the NAACP, is widely recognized as the driving force behind the 1908 monument project. Teresa founded the NAACP initiative “Visions 1908” whose purpose is to “provide programs and resources to assist individuals in economically distressed communities grow personally and professionally” (NAACP 2022). 

The Visions 1908 website showcases the proposed model for the 1908 Race Riot Memorial site, presented in a video with 3-D rendering. This vision includes a shaded boardwalk adjacent to the HSHS parking lot, where visitors can learn about Springfield in 1908, the historical events that unfolded, and the establishment of the NAACP. At the end of the boardwalk is The Wound, a “three-hundred-foot-long, large metal sculpture with an opening at its center. The opening is symbolic of a wound which the riot inflicted on the people, and the city, and which remains open” (NAACP 2022). Inside the sculpture will be eyewitness accounts of the riot. Each homesite will be traced in pale brick so that visitors can see the outlines of the foundations beneath. In the vicinity of Homesite A, “a bronze tree [will] ris[e] like a cross. A solemn sculptural remembrance of the lynching tree whose branches were taken by the mob as souvenirs. A thin veil of water will cling to the tree inviting one’s touch, the healing nature of water and of time” (NAACP 2022). This current proposed vision of the monument would be built directly over the house sites.

In June of 2023, Haley advocated for legislation that would create the 1908 Monument before the United States Senate, during which she outlined the NAACP’s three main goals for the site: “(1) preserve the historic resources; (2) provide a Memorial for the community; (3) provide visitor services including interpretation, parking, restrooms and bookstore” (Haley 2023, 1). Haley noted that the NAACP is in favor of creating a larger boundary for the site (which would require HSHS St. John’s Hospital to donate more land). Haley closed by remarking that “if enacted, the bill would turn a place of trauma into a place for healing” (ibid.). 

At a community meeting in June of 2023, Haley emphasized the importance of the language used to describe the events of 1908. She prefers to characterize the violence as an act of domestic terrorism rather than a riot or massacre. This is part of the effort to elevate stories of Black resistance within the events of 1908 without victimizing those who experienced harm, ensuring they retain agency over their own stories—a reflection of contemporary heritage work standards. Haley’s vision is of a memorial that reminds visitors about Black agency. It is important to recognize what Springfield’s Black community was able to overcome and rebuild in the aftermath of this terrible event. 

2.3. Fever River Research

Floyd Mansberger and Chris Stratton, the archeologists from Fever River Research, provided invaluable and unique insights into the site. Their extensive research has become a remarkable resource, offering a profound understanding of the area. Having explored the lives of individuals who once inhabited the excavated house sites and even held their belongings in their hands, these archeologists are deeply committed to sharing the personal stories of those impacted by the violence in 1908. Mansberger spoke with great passion about the residents whose lives he had been studying, emphasizing the significance of their experiences: 

For example, one of the houses was occupied by a guy named Robert Wright. He was a young Black man, about 18 years old. In 1898 he enlisted with the 8th Illinois infantry, which was an all-Black militia group in Illinois, and was the first of its kind in the United States. He went to Cuba, came back, and then got burnt out of his house less than ten years later. And potentially he saw more violence here in his hometown of Springfield than he saw in the military in Cuba. We found military medals that he lost. There’s not many of those around. Those little hairs on the back of your neck stand up. And there’s a series of those kinds of things that really allow you to…touch the past, seriously touch the past. And we put together what we call vignettes, little stories, and it just gives you this opportunity to have this emotional and physical contact with that individual. 

What would I like to see happen? Some sort of interpretive center that exhibits those artifacts that tells the story of the people that produced them and really allows you to understand who those people were (Azmy 2023).

The Fever River team is deeply concerned about the possibility of the monument being constructed directly over the homesites, as it could jeopardize the integrity of the historical remains below. They are seriously invested in ensuring that the monument is placed in the least archaeologically sensitive area available, as there is a common misconception that the archeological work on the site is already complete. However, the team firmly believes that the site’s archeology is far from exhausted. While they prioritize the significance of archeological research as professionals, they also emphasize that archeology serves as a powerful tool to gain insights into the lives of the individuals who lived there in the past. For the Fever River team, understanding and honoring these individuals remains of utmost importance throughout the monument’s development.

2.4. City Government and HSHS St. John’s Hospital

The City of Springfield and HSHS St. John’s Hospital own the land that the archeological site/proposed monument site is on. Although it has taken some effort, both institutions have pledged to donate the necessary lands to establish the monument (Haley 2023). The question does remain whether HSHS will donate a larger portion of land to the monument site. 

2.5. Local Heritage Workers, Tour Guides and Interpreters

Sheila Ryan serves as a site interpreter, leading an engaging walking tour that delves into the historical significance of the 1908 sites. Her role is within the State Historic Sites in Springfield, operating under the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Despite the challenging task of condensing an abundance of history into the tour’s hour-long timeframe, Sheila remains committed to presenting an honest and authentic account of what transpired, without overwhelming her audience. She imparts the lessons of the past and encourages her listeners to recognize the echoes of systemic racism in their own lives and today’s society. Sheila’s tours stand as an example of how Springfield residents are pushing the boundaries of dialogue surrounding their difficult history. Starting the tour at the Old Courthouse, where a plaque commemorates President Barack Obama’s announcement of his presidential campaign, Sheila navigates the delicate balance of informing visitors while prompting introspection. 

Let’s tell the truth, right. But let’s not make it all about either appealing to morbid fascination or the impulse to just turn away because it’s so terrible. I’ve been trying to give focus to people. I have now started to say, for example, the Dunkin family, I say everything that makes a house a home was desecrated. The piano was smashed up, the family’s pet bird and the cage were looted, that’s part of the looting. I tell those stories to give a fuller picture of the people who were affected, not just, you know, a nameless Black man…no I say this is Otis Stump and this is his family. 

The best tours are where it’s not just White folks talking to White folks about Black people. And I really try to walk the line between letting people make these connections for themselves, not preaching. 

We did have a local African American woman who had grown up in Springfield, lived in a house encompassed by the so-called Badlands, an 1890’s house. She asked exactly the kind of things that I want people to walk away with. She asked a couple times, did these people own their homes? Did they rent? Do we have records of who the owners were? And she brought that up again at the end of it and she said, ‘were the people who lost their homes ever made whole?’ So that began a discussion among people (Azmy 2023).

Dr. Brian Mitchell, the recently appointed Director of Research at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, is a distinguished scholar in monuments and difficult history. Prior to his current position, he conducted extensive research on the site of Elaine, Arkansas. As a dedicated researcher and historian, Dr. Mitchell is embarking on an ambitious project to compile a comprehensive database. This vast resource will draw from newspapers and public records to create a searchable record of Springfield’s Black residents during the period surrounding the riot. Although the project is in its early stages, it is already generating significant excitement as it aims to give a voice to the individuals who once lived in Springfield during this pivotal time in history. His goal is for this database is to

Load every household, put every address in, then go back and geocode it. So we can map where the entire Black population was…I want to create a holistic sort of something lasting for people, something that can be used in classrooms, something that can be used in college by scholars. I’d also like to do a survey of historic preservation, which of these sites is still the original structures. So we know where these original structures are from a preservation standpoint and this gives the community a leg up if they want to go out and start preserving sites that are connected (Azmy 2023).

When asked about the importance of the 1908 site in Springfield, Dr. Mitchell said, 

With difficult history I’ve been trying to impress upon students and the general public that we’re not far away from these acts of violence. We’re not far away from this mindset. In fact, it’s with us right now. And that’s why we always have to hold these histories close to our heart and them because there are lessons that come from that. And if we don’t take heed of these lessons, it’s far too easy for us to slip into these acts of mass violence again (Azmy 2023).

Dr. Mitchell and Sheila Ryan are not the only Springfieldians doing this work, but their dedication is exemplary. Both work extremely hard to humanize and personalize the people who lived through the events of 1908 and both are acutely aware that the past is present in Springfield today. 

2.6. Community Voices

On June 24th, 2023, the Illinois State Museum held two community meetings to gather ideas and dreams for the 1908 monument and related exhibitions. These potential exhibits could be located at the Transportation Hub, the Illinois State Museum, and the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum. The meetings were facilitated by two consultants, Richard M. Josey from Collective Journeys and Dina Bailey from The Auschwitz Institute, who were contracted to lead the community engagement process. During the two-hour sessions, participants engaged in brainstorming and conversations about their visions for these future spaces. The group consisted of individuals from different generations, comprised of both Black and white residents. This community-driven approach to monument creation is uncommon and demonstrates how Springfield is actively trying to confront its past in the present. 

The consultants prompted participants to share their emotions and associations regarding the 1908 race riots. The responses ranged from pain and conviction to connection and empathy. Words such as terrorism, shame, injustice, and silence were among the associations with the events. When asked about their motivations for commemorating the sites, participants expressed a desire to build community, support, educate, and speak truth to power. They also discussed their hopes for the exhibitions, including fostering community healing, self-awareness, and positive change. Connecting the 1908 sites with Lincoln sites and integrating them into Springfield’s tourist attractions were also mentioned to ensure visitors understand the impact of the events on the present.

This type of community conversation is crucial so that institutional stakeholders can understand the community’s needs and desires for the process. Residents expressed a strong desire to elevate the names and personal stories of those most deeply affected by the riots, like Scott Burton and William Donegan, who lost their lives during the violence. The community felt a profound pain over the fading of some stories over time, particularly that of Samuel Clark Payne, an infant who tragically died as his family fled their home during the riots. In the story of his death, he is often nameless. Preserving his name and memory was of great importance to the community, emphasizing the significance of ensuring no names are lost again.

Regardless of background or position, all of the major stakeholders in Springfield are concerned with telling the stories of the people whose lives were irrevocably altered in August of 1908. Perhaps this is the answer to the looming question of how to tell the history of a barren space. It must be filled with stories. 

Section 3: Conclusion

The people of Springfield are eager for progress, yet they recognize that removing bureaucratic obstacles, securing funding, and completing construction on the site may take several years. During this time, the community must come together to envision the future of the space while considering the needs and desires of both locals and visitors. There are two main questions that remain as this project moves forward: (1) what the design/placement of the monument will be, and (2) where the funding will come from/how the funds will be raised. Despite the many decisions still to be made, one thing is clear: Springfield is prepared to confront its challenging history through the 1908 monument.

Embracing a framework of reinterpretation, Springfield is prepared to embrace its difficult history and tell its story. Though Lincoln’s legacy looms large in the city, the 1908 monument will not be overshadowed by it. Instead, Springfield aims to shed light on its entire legacy, acknowledging the nation’s unresolved racial tensions and animosities. This reinterpretation process will be comprehensive, requiring a recontextualization of both Lincoln’s legacy and Springfield’s history within a nation still grappling with racial issues.

Creating a monument demands dedication from all stakeholders, even amid challenging conversations and lengthy bureaucratic procedures. While monument creation alone may not single-handedly lead to racial reckoning and community building, it is essential to acknowledge the significant efforts required by all involved parties. Throughout this process, community members who might not otherwise interact have come together, creating a space for crucial conversations to occur. The monument project may not heal deep wounds, but it serves as an access point and a starting place for these vital dialogues to begin.

Despite the differing visions for the future 1908 monument, all of the stakeholders remain aligned in the fact that this is a powerful site of conscience. To the untrained eye, in its current state, the area appears to be nothing more than an unmanaged parcel of land near a construction site. To those who know, this is hallowed ground, a place where the past and present intertwine, haunting both the landscape and the min

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