Identifier: fiftyyearsoffree00hamb (find matches)
Title: Fifty years of freedom : report of committee representing state of Wisconsin, at the celebration of the half-century anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Chicago, Aug. 22-Sept. 16, 1915, to Governor Emanual L. Philipp
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Hambrecht, George P. (George Philip), 1871-1943 Cook, Samuel A Banks, Samuel R
Subjects: Philipp, Emanuel L. (Emanuel Lorenz), 1861-1925 United States. President (1861-1865 : Lincoln) Semi-centennial Celebration of Negro Freedom (1915 : Chicago, Ill.) Slaves
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Blied Print. Co.
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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til the enactment of Chapter195, laws of 1915, the members of that committee sacri-ficed considerable time and energy in endeavoring tomake Wisconsin a worthy participant in the celebration.Some time after their appointment, the members of thecommittee of eleven learned that, instead of a conven-tion, the celebration would be in the nature of an ex-position to which each state would be asked to send anexhibit, showing the progress and achievements of thenegro within its borders. In order to obtain the mostbeneficial and effective results, the committee organizedin December, 1914, by electing George H. DeReef, Mil-waukee, Chairman; Mrs. R. B. Montgomery, Milwaukee,Secretary; and Mrs. P. C. Clark, Milwaukee, Treasurer.At a subsequent meeting of the committee, the membersdecided to make a concerted effort to interest the pressof the state in the celebration, and, in order to financeproper publicity, a tax was levied by the committee uponeach member thereof. A circular letter was prepared
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Bishop Samuel Fallows, D. D., L. L. D.President of the Illinois Commission on Negro Freedom and sent to the various newspapers of the state and toindividuals, requesting that the same be given publicity. In June, 1915, the bill which became Chapter 195,laws of 1915, was passed by the legislature and was ap-proved by Governor E. L. Philipp. During the consider-ation of this bill by the Senate, an unusual honor wasconferred upon a Wisconsin negro — an honor to thecolored race of Wisconsin — when Samuel R. Banks,upon invitation of the Senate, sitting as Committee ofthe Whole, addressed that body on the merits of the bill.Such a privilege had never before in the history of theWisconsin legislature been extended to a member of thecolored race. Mr. Banks interesting and able mannerin presenting the history of the Wisconsin negro waslargely responsible for the concurrence of the Senate inthe bill. The commission of three and the committee ofeleven met frequently and devoted much time in

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