The Organizing Arc — 1845 to 1877

John Jones arrived in Chicago in 1845 with three dollars. He became one of the wealthiest Black men in antebellum America, ran a station on the Underground Railroad, and organized politically for twenty years against the Black Laws that denied his community basic citizenship.

His efforts succeeded in 1865 when the Illinois Legislature repealed the Black Laws. In 1871, in the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire, Jones was elected to the Cook County Commission — the first African American officeholder in the state's history.

Six years later, John W. E. Thomas was elected as Illinois' first African American state legislator. He was seated in 1877 and served three terms. Despite his key role in passing Illinois' first civil rights act and his twenty years of political leadership, Thomas's career has been long forgotten by historians and the public. The archive names him.

Heritage Cards

Born free in North Carolina, 1816. Arrived Chicago 1845 with three dollars. Built a tailoring empire. Ran Underground Railroad stops. Fought the Black Laws for twenty years. In 1869, appointed as Illinois' first Black notary public. In 1870, the first Black man to serve on a grand jury in Illinois. In 1871, elected as Cook County Commissioner — the first Black officeholder in the state's history. He died in 1879. The state legislator he made possible came two years before his death.

Born enslaved in Alabama, 1847. Elected to the Illinois General Assembly 1876, seated 1877. Served three terms. Was the recognized leader of the state's African American community for nearly twenty years and laid the groundwork for the success of future Black leaders in Chicago politics. Passed Illinois' first civil rights act. Largely forgotten. The archive names him.

Black Americans make up approximately 14.4% of Illinois's population — about approximately 1.8 million people. They have always been here.