Historical Markers Update, Year-End Review, Photos from the Gene Siskel Film Center
Photo: Corey Walden
Out of the Vault at 20: The Murder of Fred Hampton
Panther Lawyer Flint Taylor
Photo: Corey Walden
On December 3, 2024, Chicago Film Archives invited the Historical Preservation Society to the Gene Siskel Film Center for the screening of The Murder of Fred Hampton. This event was not just a screening but a profound observance of history. At 4:30 a.m. on December 4, 1969, J. Edgar Hoover and State’s Attorney Edward Hanrahan assassinated Deputy Chairman Fred Hampton and Defense Captain Mark Clark at the hands of Chicago police. While deeply saddening, this coordinated attack on Party leadership is a crucial part of our collective history. As Congressman Rush wants us to remember, Fred Hampton is the only American citizen outwardly murdered by official state operatives.
The event featured an audience discussion and commentary by Nancy Watrous of Chicago Film Archives, Flint Taylor of the People’s Law Office, the Honorable Bobby L. Rush, Leila Wills of the Historical Preservation Society, Willie Calvin, Robert Campbell and many others.
Thank you for joining us.
Photos from the evening are at the end of this page.
Historical Markers Update
The first plaque to be installed at Illinois Chapter Headquarters, 2350 W. Madison, Chicago.
Continuing our Dedication Ceremony for Members and Donors discussion, our first historical marker installation will honor the Illinois Chapter’s headquarters at 2350 W. Madison in Chicago. Architectural firm JAQ Corp, led by John Gay, is leading the installation process.
Here are some updates regarding the permitting process:
We do not have a date for installation yet; we are in the permitting process with the City of Chicago.
We plan to provide 4-6 weeks' advance notice of the dedication for 2350 W. Madison, so don’t worry about a last-minute rush.
JAQ Corp has submitted the architectural drawings for the installation of 2350 W. Madison to the City of Chicago.
The Historical Preservation Society is applying for the required $250 business license with the city.
We have obtained General Liability Insurance, which the city also requires, at $27 monthly. Although a yearly policy is discounted, we want to be sure of each unseen requirement before spending hundreds of dollars upfront and changing the policy.
We are also investigating insurance policies to insure the markers once installed and will keep you updated.
As you can imagine, unseen administrative fees are associated with each marker.
When we have the complete cost of 2350 W. Madison, we can create a budget and fundraising goal for each remaining marker.
Donate Before December 31
Did you know that our total donations affect the corporate, foundational and grant support we can receive?
Please donate before December 31 to increase our possible awards in 2025!
Heritage Trail Outreach
The inaugural marker installations on our Heritage Trail require support from our elected officials. Just about every alderperson below said they would work with us on this historical project. We just met the team at Alderman Chico’s office, and it was their first time learning about our efforts.
Alderman Burnett is the official over 2350 W. Madison, and we are in touch with him and his office. He also plans to rename streets and parks in honor of Fred Hampton. You may remember that Mayor Brandon Johnson named August 30 Fred Hampton Day. All of this activity is synergistic, and we are excited to continue establishing the Heritage Trail in Illinois.
Last week, we also gave each of the remaining aldermen a fresh update. For some, it was our first time meeting their staff.
Although we do not yet have a marker for the 5th Ward, Alderman Desmon Yancy has been instrumental in helping our project move forward.
5th Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy
Historical Markers in Each Ward
2nd Ward, Ald. Hopkins: St. Dominic’s Church, Cabrini Green–demolished 357 W. Locust; the Illinois Chapter’s Northside Cadre sponsors this marker.
3rd Ward, Ald. Dowell:
1. Southside Office–demolished, 4233 S. Indiana; Congressman Bobby L. Rush, Diane Shelley, and other donors sponsor this marker.
2. First Southside Office–demolished, 233 E. 35th Street; the people sponsor this marker.
4th Ward, Ald. Robinson: Madden Park–demolished. This marker marks the site of the Breakfast Program in Madden Park Homes, 500 E. 37th Street; Landmarks Illinois sponsors this marker.
10th Ward, Ald. Chico: Our Lady of the Gardens Church–now a charter school, Site of Breakfast Program in Altgeld Gardens, 13300 S. Langley; Trust for Public Land sponsors this marker.
24th Ward, Ald. Scott:
1. Spurgeon Jake Winters Free Medical Center–demolished, 3850 W. 16th Street; Dr. Cheryl Peterson, M.D., Willie and Donna Calvin, Lonnie Hall, and other donors sponsor this marker.
2. Better Boys Foundation–Not demolished, new structure, 1512 S. Pulaski; the Illinois Chapter sponsors this marker—first location of the Free Breakfast for Children program.
27th Ward, Ald. Burnett:
1. Headquarters–demolished, 2350 W. Madison Street; Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation sponsors this marker.
2. Assassination Site–demolished, 2337 W. Monroe; the Illinois Chapter sponsors this marker.
34th Ward, Ald. Conway: People’s Church, now Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland; the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation sponsors this marker.
43rd Ward, Ald. Knudsen:
1. People’s Law Office—lawyers for the Black Panther Party and Rainbow Coalition, 2156 N. Halsted, 1969-1975. The Trust for Public Land sponsors this marker.
2. Church of the Holy Covenant–gave refuge to the Illinois Chapter and Rainbow Coalition during the Days of Rage; lawyers for the Black Panthers stored evidence here, including bloody mattresses from the assassinations of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, 925 W. Diversey; the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation, and other donors sponsor this marker.
Donate Before December 31
Did you know that our total donations affect the corporate, foundational and grant support we can receive?
Please donate before December 31 to increase our possible awards in 2025!
A Look at Our Work in 2024
We are doing our Year-End Closing and would like to share a quick look into our year’s work. Your membership, participation and donations have made this year especially exciting. We value your experience, insight and support and look forward to an even better 2025.
The upcoming year has several goals. The primary goals of 2025 include marker installations, fundraising, establishing the Heritage Trail with educational resources, preserving ILBPP ephemera, and capacity building. We also have an accountant to keep our records and make financial reports.
2024: Year in Review
Board of Directors, Voluntary, Non-Paid
Billy “Ché” Brooks, Chairman of the Board
Leila Wills, Vice-Chair
Gina Wright, Secretary
Kwabena Rasuli, Treasurer
Ms. Lonnie Hall, Director
Company Leadership, Voluntary, Non-Paid
Leila Wills, Executive Director
Members
Over 75 Members, will provide the exact number in our first Annual Report
2024 Programs and Events
January 18, 2024–Online Celebration of National Register of Historic Places Achievement
May 21, 2024–Membership Meeting, in person at NEIU Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies
June 22, 2024–Inaugural Bus Tour of Black Panther Party Sites in Chicago, departure/return Better Boys Foundation
August 7, 2024–Opening Exhibit and Reception at the People’s Church, now Epiphany Center for the Arts
October 27, 2024–Black Panther Party Heritage Trail Dedication and Celebration at the Better Boys Foundation, first location of the Free Breakfast for Children Program in Chicago
December 3, 2024–With Chicago Film Archives, a film screening of The Murder of Fred Hampton in Observance of the Assassinations of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark at the Gene Siskel Film Center
2024 Program and Event Sponsors
2024 Organizational Support
2024 Historical Markers Fund: Total Raised
Total Raised: $41,941.03
Number of Donations: 83
2024: Total Donations $65,893.64
Gross Donations: $65,893.64
Average Donation: $401.79
Total Donations: 164
Did you know that our total donations affect the corporate, foundational and grant support we can receive?
Please donate before December 31 to increase our possible awards in 2025!
Top Donors of 2024: Thank you!
Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation
Trust for Public Land
Illinois Humanities
Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation
Black Panther Party, Illinois Chapter
Black Panther Party, Northside Cadre
Landmarks Illinois
The Honorable Bobby L. Rush
Lynn French
Dr. Cheryl Peterson, M.D.
Willie and Donna Calvin
Michael Kleinman
Jonathan Solomon
Max Kenner
Larry Jenkins
Leila Wills
Jon Rice
Diane Shelley
Zayid Muhammad
Lonnie Hall
Paul Siegel
Yvonne King
Martin Kenner
Jackie Holsten
Dr. Patricia Brown
Emory Douglas
Chuck Carlson
Donate Before December 31, 2024
Did you know that our total donations affect the corporate, foundational and grant support we can receive?
Please donate before December 31 to increase our possible awards in 2025!
First Annual Report: 1st Quarter of 2025
Our growing society and community has had a phenomenal year.
We look forward to publishing our first annual report in the first quarter of 2025, providing insight into our impact and activities.
Your partnership and enthusiasm in this crucial work keep our engines running.
We are A Humanities Society
Humanities are human expression, including history, art, culture and language. Our organization, a historical society, is classified under humanities. We focus on preserving the history of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party.
Are their struggles and challenges? Of course! We know this effort has inherent contradictions, and we do not run from tough questions.
Transparency is the key to our success, so please do not hesitate to ask us anything. Our members' meetings are excellent events to learn about and discuss our landmarking initiative. Our 2025 Members’ Meeting has not been scheduled yet, but in the meantime, please get in touch with us! We love sharing our plans to establish the Black Panther Party Heritage Trail in Illinois.
Would you like us to present the Heritage Trail and our preservation efforts to your company or group? Let us know!
Many of you also have valuable knowledge and insight that you would like to share. Our Executive Director, Leila Wills, and board members can meet with individuals and groups via Zoom or in person. Please invite us!
If you’re not a member, please join us!
This is groundbreaking work that will benefit generations to come.
