Heritage Trail Progress, New Books, and What’s Next
City Coordination Continues for Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois
Dear Members and Friends,
We are happy to report that coordination with the City of Chicago to install our historical markers is moving forward. While there are similar completed projects in the city, there is no hard-and-fast rule for how these things get done.
Even though installations are taking longer than we had hoped, we are working with people who are helping move this project forward.
We'll keep you updated on our progress.
Online Heritage Trail Materials
We are developing the online Heritage Trail materials and expect to have the website built out this summer. Each of our 13 inaugural sites will have its own page with educational and research information.
We are excited to make this history widely accessible.
Stay tuned!
Upcoming Book Releases
In 1980, with unparalleled access to Illinois Party members, historian Jon F. Rice wrote a comprehensive account of the Illinois Chapter.
Up on Madison, Down on 75th sets the scene of 1969 Chicago—organizers, the political machine, and how the Panthers set out to challenge it.
In 1998, Rice expanded this work through his dissertation, Black Revolutionaries on Chicago’s West Side: A History of the Illinois Panthers. Both works have served as foundational research for subsequent studies, films, and scholarship, including our successful National Register of Historic Places listing for the Illinois Chapter.
The Historical Preservation Society is pleased to publish these works to extend access to this historical record. Both books will be available in May—stay tuned for the announcement!
We thank Dr. Rice for generously donating the proceeds to the HPS in support of our work.
October 15 Open House Update
Our Heritage Trail Open House on October 15 has been postponed due to the installation timeline for our historical markers. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to celebrating this milestone with you once this phase is completed.
October 15 marks the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party, and several events are being planned in Oakland.
Join the waitlist for program announcements and anniversary events at www.bpp60.org.
Support Our Work
Your support makes this work possible.
From National Register designation to landmarking, historical markers, the development of the Heritage Trail, and scholarship publishing, this work requires ongoing research, coordination, and development.
If you would like to support our work, we welcome your contribution.
Donate today to help preserve the history of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party.
