[AFRICAN AMERICANA - COLORADO]. A group of items involving African American towns in Colorado, incl. Lincoln Hills brochure and photographs.

Lincoln Hills marketing brochure. Folio, 16 x 22 in. (heavily tattered, with creases, separations, taped repairs, loss, and chipping throughout). Denver, CO: Lincoln Hills, Inc., n.d. Ink inscribed "Zepha Grant" to lower right. Brochure describes Lincoln Hills as "A city of beauty, a place of refinement, a panorama of achievements and golden opportunities...A challenge to the ability, energy and ingenuity of all soon to be translated into action through our racial unity, civil pride and courage. A contribution to the Great State of Colorado with her fair laws that benefit all." A quotation from the eponymous Abraham Lincoln is featured below a picture index: "Having chosen our course without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God and go forward without fear and with manly hearts." Brochure includes images of landscape views and structures on the development, a long list of people who have purchased lots, a map showing railroad and highway access, and a plot map showing the locations of individual lots and estates. Boasts "Easy Terms / $5 Down / $5 Per Month on $50 Contracts."

17 silver gelatin photographic copies of earlier photographs or documents related to the all-Black town and settlement of Dearfield, Colorado, founded by O.T. Jackson, ranging in size from approx. 5 x 5 in. to 5 x 7 in., including: 4 images of pages of a brochure about the town, 7 images featuring O.T. Jackson and/or his family members, one image of an unidentified resident farm, one image of the school house and church, and 4 others. Each with inscribed caption on verso.

5 silver gelatin snapshots of views at Dearfield including Dearfield Lake and two houses. Each with inscribed caption on verso and dated 1972.

[With:] 5 photographs, including a cabinet card by the Pikes Peak Photographers, that are not identifiable to Lincoln Hills or Dearfield.

Lincoln Hills was the brainchild of 3 white Denver entrepreneurs, who created Lincoln Hills, Inc. to build a summer development for middle class African Americans in Gilpin County, Colorado. They were likely inspired by the larger development of Idlewild, Michigan.

Dearfield was established as a black majority settlement in Weld County, Colorado. Oliver Toussaint Jackson filed on the homestead that would become the town in 1910, advertising for "colonists" to make their homes there. The town ultimately fell victim to the Great Depression, and fell to a population of 12 by 1940.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Freeman's I Hindman strives to describe historic materials in a manner that is respectful to all communities, providing descriptive contexts for objects where possible. The nature of historical ephemera is such that some material may represent positions, language, values, and stereotypes that are not consistent with the current values and practices at Freeman's I Hindman.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]

Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

American Historical Ephemera and Photography, Featuring African Americana

[AFRICAN AMERICANA - COLORADO]. A group of items involving African American towns in Colorado, incl. Lincoln Hills brochure and photographs.

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