Springfield 1908 Race Riot
National Monument
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As one of the country's worst examples of mass racial violence, the Springfield Race Riot generated outrage, which led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Despite our nation's long history of race riots and thousands of lynchings, the National Park Service (NPS), does not have any parks that tell these terrible stories or the birth of the NAACP and the courage of Ida B. Well-Barnett, who fought to stop racial violence. On June 10, 2024, the Department of Interior will host a public meeting in Springfield to hear from the community.
The History.The country was shocked by the account of the race riots in Springfield, Illinois, on August 14, 1908. Mabel Hallam accused George Richardson of having raped her the night before. Tension filled the air as two black men sat in the county jail. A large white mob had gathered outside the jail, wanting to take matters in their own hands, chanting for vigilante justice. The white mob demanded the release of George Richardson and Joe James, two black prisoners being held on counts of crimes against whites. Richardson was accused of raping Mabel Hallam, a white woman, and James was accused of the murder of Clergy Ballard, a white man.
The county sheriff, with the help of Harry Loper, a white restaurant owner, secretly transported the prisoners to Bloomington, Illinois. The realization of this escape ignited the race riots. A large white crowd had gathered outside the jail, wanting to take matters in their own hands, chanting for vigilante justice. A mob of the “best citizens” of Abraham Lincoln’s hometown had raged for two days, killed and wounded scores of Negroes, and driven thousands from the city. Much of the violence was centered on the Levee commercial district and residential Badlands. The violence was subdued through the efforts of the Illinois National Guard. Although Mabel later recanted her story, absolving Mr. Richardson of any wrong-doing, her actions unleashed a fury of violent activity that was to wreck havoc with the City of Springfield. Over 40 houses and businesses were destroyed in the Badlands during the 1908 riot in Springfield. The Springfield Race Riot of August 1908 was one of the catalysts that resulted in the formation of the NAACP. On February 12, 1909, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the organization was formed. As quoted in the NAACP's webpage, "The NAACP was formed partly in response to the continuing horrific practice of lynching and the 1908 race riot in Springfield, the capital of Illinois and resting place of President Abraham Lincoln." During a rail improvement project in Springfield, artifacts from the 1908 Springfield Race Riot were found. A resulting archeological survey, in consultation with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, was conducting, resulting in the discovery of numerous foundations and artifacts. The process is documented in "The Archaeology of Racial Hatred: The Springfield Race Riot of August 1908." |
Springfield Site Meets NPS Criteria for Commemoration
National Park Service August 2022 Public Meeting
Site Added to NPS African American Civil Rights Network
Special Resource Study Civic Engagement Summary
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