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Abbott-Sengstacke Family Papers

Finding Aid: Abbott-Sengstacke Family Papers
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature

In April 1944, the U.S.S. Robert S. Abbott was launched from the Permanente Metals Corporation's Shipyard No. 2. It was the fourth World War II liberty ship launched in honor of African Americans, but the first financed completely by war bonds purchased by black Americans. African Americans in Illinois raised $2,000,000 for the ship, the culmination of a Chicago Defender fundraising campaign. The ship was christened by Myrtle Sengstacke, wife of John Sengstacke.
Maker: Unknown
Owner: Robert A. Sengstacke
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Harry S. Truman, John H. Sengstacke and Richard J. Daley at the 1956 Bud Billiken parade. The parade was first held in 1929 and was named after the fictional editor of the Defender's children's section. Children could apply to be members of the Bud Billiken club, and editors took turns writing Billiken's weekly column. Novelist Willard Motley served as the voice of Bud Billiken as a teenager. When David Kellum became editor of the Billiken page in 1927, he, along with Abbott and Lucius Harper, developed the idea for an annual Defender-sponsored parade. The first annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic took place in 1929. By mid-century the annual parade was one of the largest gatherings of African Americans in the United States.
Maker: Unknown
Owner: Unknown
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Letter written by Robert Abbott in 1934 to the department heads of the Chicago Defender announcing John Sengstacke's appointment as office manager. This letter marks Sengstacke's official entry into the newspaper and illustrates the early role that Abbott envisioned Sengstacke playing in the running of the newspaper.
Maker: Robert Abbott
Owner: Robert A. Sengstacke
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Letter written from President Harry Truman to John Sengstacke thanking him for his service on the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, established in 1948 under Executive Order 9981, which called for desegregation of the United States Armed Forces. Sengstacke had been heavily involved in campaigns to desegregate the armed forces since World War II.
Maker: President Harry Truman
Owner: John Sengstacke
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
A Chicago Defender promotion urging advertisers, in the spirit of American patriotism and free enterprise, to advertise to the viable African American market through the Chicago Defender and the black press.
Maker: Chicago Defender staff
Owner: Chicago Defender
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Convention program for the Seventh Annual Meeting of the Negro Newspaper Publishers Association, which today is known as the National Newspaper Publishers Association, held in New York City in June 1946. Representatives from 51 African-American-owned newspapers attended to focus attention on newsgathering, editorial, advertising, and printing issues faced by the black media.
Maker: NNPA members
Owner: NNPA
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Robert S. Abbott stands in front of his chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce limousine, 1920s.
Maker: Unknown
Owner: Robert A. Sengstacke
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Robert S. Abbott provides a tour of the Chicago Defender's printing press, 1920s. The 1919 Chicago Riot created a rift between the Defender and its printer, which temporarily halted the newspaper's production. In the months that followed, Abbott purchased a high-speed cylinder press from Goss Printing Press Company and installed it at the Defender's new headquarters on Indiana Avenue to prevent any future printing disruptions. The press was valued at more than $500,000.
Maker: Unknown
Owner: Unknown
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
Portrait of John H. Sengstacke and his family members (l to r): Flaurience Sengstacke (sister), Rebecca Sengstacke (aunt; Robert S. Abbott's sister), and Gwen Thomas (cousin).
Maker: Unknown
Owner: Robert A. Sernstacke
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature
The Chicago Defender's Victory Edition dated September 26, 1942. The Defender hailed this edition as 'the biggest venture of its kind ever undertaken by the Negro press.' Its eight-six pages included two magazines and a complete picture section that celebrated the loyalty and patriotism of black Americans in the war effort and stressed the need for improved racial relations in the U.S.
Maker: Chicago Defender
Owner: Chicago Defender
Note: Abbott-Sengstacke Collection, Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature

Images and an overview of the artifacts.