FRANKLYN ATKINSON HENDERSON COLLECTION, circa 1850-1900

 

Storage:  Box Lot (2-11 x 14 inch boxes)

Accession Number: G1990.70

 

Description of the Collection

The Franklyn Atkinson Henderson Collection is comprised of 50 cabinet card and other card (studio portrait) photographs.  These include portraits of Daniel Hale Williams--founder of Provident Hospital, John Jones--first African-American Cook County Commissioner who was elected to office in 1871, Joanna Cecilia Snowden—first African-American bank clerk and first African-American probation officer, Lloyd Garrison Wheeler—the first African-American lawyer admitted to the Illinois bar, Edward Hopkins Morris who served in the Illinois Legislature from 1890 to 1902, Mary Davenport--first African-American police matron (appointed by Mayor Carter H. Harrison) and the actor Richard B. Harrison.

 

The collection was donated by Michele Madison and Grace Mason, descendants of the Atkinson family who settled in Chicago in 1847.  According to family researchers, Isaac Atkinson and his wife Emma Jane were the thirteenth African-American family to reside in Chicago.  Isaac owned his own bus line in Chicago and later, was the first person to be pensioned by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.  Emma Jane aided fugitive slaves from the South through the underground railway located in Chicago's Quinn Chapel, A.M.E.

 

The collection was compiled by Franklyn Atkinson Henderson, a grandson of the original Atkinson family, who devoted much of his life to documenting the lives of pioneer African-American in Chicago.  He was secretary and historian of the Chicago Old Settlers Social Club.  Most of the photographs were given to him by friends and members of the Club.  He arranged to have the collection exhibited at the American Negro Exposition held in Chicago in 1940.  The photographs were accompanied by the attendance record book of the Old Settlers Social Club dated 1902-1918.

 

Ms. Madison and Ms. Mason made the donation in honor of Franklyn Atkinson Henderson and in acknowledgement of Black History Month, 1990.

 

Container List

 

Box 1

 

1. Allen, George

2. Atkinson,

3. Baker, Naomi Crutcher

4. Bond, Mary

5. Brown, Lourena Simpson (1842-1930)

6. Carr, Georgiana de Baptista

7. Curtis, M.D., Austin (b.1863)

8. Davenport, Mary (1856-1863)

9. Dawson, Sr., J.B. (1819-1850)

10. DeBaptiste, Richard (1831-1901)

11. Dempsey, Ida McIntosh (1857-1924)

12. Drisden, Andrew C. (1866-1937)

13. Drisden, Valetta Winslow (1871-1937)

14. Hall, George Cleveland

15. Hall, Sr., Abrum Thomson (1822-1916)

16. Harrison, Lawrence Gilbert (1901-1937)

17. Harrison, Richard Barry (1865-1935)

18. Hudlin, Anna Elizabeth (d.1914)

19. Hudlin, Joseph

20. Hudlin, Kitty

21. Isbell, Lewis (1818-1905)

 

Box 2

 

1. Jones, James E. (d.1910)

2. Jones, Honorable John (1816-1879)

3. Jones, John G.

4. Jones, Mary Richardson (1820-1910)

5. Jones, William Albert and Nettie Amelia Jones

6. King, Cassius J. (1845-1924)

7. Knighten, Charlotte

8. Knights Templar [moved to Box 3]

9. McGowen, Jr., David

10. Moody, Agnes Berry (1856-1901)

11. Moore, Joseph (1848-1915)

12. Morris, Edward Hopkins (1858-1943)

13. Nelson, Laney (b.1822)

14. Owens, Luella Pointz

15. Perry, Hattie Warner (1859-1933)

16. Pointer, Elizabeth Garnett

17. Skinner, Carrie Jenkins (1860-1911)

18. Smith, Gabrella Knighten

19. Snowden, Joana Cecelia (1864-1941)

20. Taylor, Eliza Campbell (1850-1893)

21. Taylor, James

22. Tervalon, Charlotte & Masces

23. Waring, Jennie

24. Waring, Mary Jane (1838-1896)

25. Watkins, William (1846-1895)

26. Watts, Henry

27. Wheeler, Lloyd Garrison (1849-1909)

28. Williams, M.D., L.L.D., Daniel Hale (1858-1931)

29. Wilson, Jenny

30. Younger family

31. African-American female unidentified

32. African-American unidentified

33. African-American Female unidentified (1862)

 

Box 3

 

1. Adkinson, Emma Jane

 

April 6, 1990

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