05/23/2025
On August 16, 2024, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument in Springfield, Illinois, acknowledging a pivotal event in American civil rights history. The designation commemorated the tragic events of August 1908, when a white mob in Springfield, Illinois, attacked Black residents, resulting in deaths, injuries, and the destruction of numerous Black-owned businesses and homes. The riot was a catalyst for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.
In recognition of this significant moment, Austin Randolph, President of the Springfield, IL NAACP Branch, presented the Sangamon Valley Collection with a photograph capturing President Biden during the August 16, 2024, designation ceremony.
This photograph serves as an important historical artifact, symbolizing the ongoing efforts to acknowledge and learn from the past.
The Sangamon Valley Collection, housed within the Lincoln Library, is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Springfield and the surrounding region. The addition of this photograph enhances the collection's mission to document and share the stories that have shaped the community.
