Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
February 24, 2002
by Marylee Hagan
Vigo County Historical Society
Work celebrates centennial
In 1963, a group of prominent citizens from the black community in Terre Haute worked together to plan a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.
To commemorate the centennial, a booklet titled The Negro in Terre Haute” was published. The booklet committee consisted of John W. Lyda, Morton A Lewis, Thelma Jett and Lee B. Jett. Photograph was done by Gary Brett and Paul Stuart Jr., and the cover was designed by Don Turner.
The booklet is a wealth of information and pictures about members of Terre Haute’s black community and their positions in the fields of education, health and welfare, public safety, religious life, community service and business and occupations. It is an excellent chronicle of their contributions made to the community.
In the forward of the booklet, it is noted “freedom, granted by the Presidential proclamation signed on January 1, 1863, is not Freedom in fact as countless thousands of Negroes are denied the right to exercise the vote, the right to equal job opportunity, the right to adequate housing, and the right to attend school and churches of their choice.”
Also in the forward it is stated “it would be impossible to enumerate all those who have gone before us and those today who are achieving in our local community.
“This publication is meant to give heart and encouragement to our leaders of tomorrow.
“It is to these young people and to those who have contributed so much in the past that his publication is humbly dedicated.”
Included with the local history is the Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” address, which he delivered at the Freedom March in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963.
As we celebrate Black History Month, it is appropriate to recognize the strides that have been made by all those who have worked to eliminate prejudice and discrimination from our society. But, as stated in the book’s forward, “Giant strides have been made toward elimination abuses, however, much remains to be done before true Freedom is attained.”
And, in the words of Martin Luther King: “When we let Freedom ring in every city and state in the country, we will be able to see the day when black and white, Protestant and Catholic, Jew and Gentile, and all God’s children will join hands and sing that old Negro spiritual: “Free at Last, Free at Last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at Last.”
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth Street, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Web site: http://indstate.edu/community/vchs.