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55
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NO LOT.
56
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—
DOUGLASS, FREDERICK.)
Program
for the Colored American Day. World’s
Columbian Exposition, Festival Hall.
Small 4to sheet, folded to form three pages,
printed on three sides; some discoloration
and small stains to the blank last page, oth-
erwise normal toning.
Chicago, 25 August 1893
[400/600]
The Chicago Exposition of 1893 ignored black
people in terms of representation in the exhibits
and activities, to such a degree that the Court of
Honor center of the fair was dubbed “The White
City.” Blacks were only allowed to work at the
Exposition: Paul Lawrence Dunbar was a lava-
tory attendant, and James Weldon Johnson, a
“chair boy.” And while there were virtually no
black exhibits or exhibitors at first, blacks were
certainly welcome as paying customers, and even
promised “2000 free watermelons.” This was
too much. The noted anti-lynching activist Ida
B. Wells organized a protest of the Fair. To
defuse the protest and avoid losing money, the
sponsors designated Friday, August 25th as
“Colored American Day.” Frederick Douglass
was made “President of the Day,” drawing thou-
sands who came to hear him speak. While not listed on this program, Booker T. Washington also
spoke, and there were performances by Sissieretta Jones, the so-called “Black Patti.” Scott Joplin per-
formed as did Frederick Douglass’s son Joseph, an accomplished violinist. All of the music of the day
was under the direction of Harry Thacker Burleigh.
57
57
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(SLAVERY AND ABOLITION—
DOUGLASS, FREDERICK.) CHESNUTT,
CHARLES.
Frederick Douglass, a
Beacon Biography.
Portrait. 141 pages.
Small 12mo, original flexible calf; with the
title in gilt on the spine some wear to the
extremities; front joint started but firm.
SIGNED BY CHESNUTT ON THE TITLE PAGE
.
Boston: Small Maynard, 1899
[400/600]
One of the series of Beacon Biographies of
Eminent Americans edited by M. De Wolf
Howe.