African Americana

8vo. Photographic frontispiece and illustrations. (Minor spotting.) Original green cloth, spine gilt-lettered (some light wear). Provenance: Frank Lowden (1861-1943), 25th Governor of Illinois (bookplate, inscription).

FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE CHAIRMAN, EDGAR A. BANCROFT: "To Hon. Frank O. Lowden with high esteem and with appreciation of the opportunity given us for public service. Edgar A. Bancroft Chairman." ADDITIONALLY SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR OF THE STUDY, CHARLES S. JOHNSON, AND MOST MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION: Francis W. Shepardson (Vice Chairman), Robert Sengstacke Abbott, George Cleveland Hall, Adelbert H. Roberts, Lacey Kirk Williams, William Scott Bond, Edward Osgood Brown, Harry Eugene Kelly, Victor Lawson, and Julius Rosenwald.

The Chicago Commission on Race Relations was a non-partisan commission established as a response to the 1919 Chicago riots. The purpose of the commission, which was appointed by Illinois governor Frank Lowden and which comprised equal numbers African American and European American members, was to investigate the causes of the riots and make recommendations to prevent similar tragedies in future. The Negro in Chicago includes a review of the background of the riots and the riots themselves, and concludes with a series of recommendations and suggestions by the commission to the police, City Council, Board of Education, social and civic organizations, the public, employers and labor organizations, street car companies, restaurants, theaters, stores, and to the press. A SUPERB ASSOCIATION COPY.