May 04, 2007 in june of 1920, six black circus workers were wrongly accused of raping a white duluth woman. He is the author of four other books and his writings have appeared in numerous publications. Duluth store sells postcard of 1920 lynching history news. And dylans desolation row is another kind of postcard of the hanging. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Reporters of the two major newspapers of minneapolis and st. How white americans used lynchings to terrorize and control. Virginia huston and warren read take in the national. Laura wexlers fire in a canebrake 2003, steve oneys and the dead shall rise 2003, and mamie tillmobleys memoir, death of innocence 2003. The duluth authorities stand condemned in the eyes of the nation. Wellsbarnett lobbied for decades to make lynching a federal crime. Editorial says fact that lynchings of black people took place in many parts of country was underscored in duluth, minn, as city unveiled moving memorial commemorating deaths of. This unusual northern lynching received wide public attention at the time, due in part to the fact. May 04, 2018 as new lynching memorial opens, a look back on americas history of racial terrorism we listen back to interviews with historian philip dray, author of at the hands of persons unknown, and james.
Lynching of will james in cairo, illinois, november 11, 1909. The lynchings in duluth, 2nd edition minnesota historical. On the 96th anniversary of the lynching of three black circus workers in duluth, mike tusken, the citys newly appointed police chief, described the challenge of coming to. Postcard from a lynching by chris julin and stephanie hemphill june 2001 minnesota public radio october 25, 2002 realaudio. Many americans have found it convenient to think that episodes like this come only from the jim crowera deep south. British and american literature, sporting books, private press and illustrated books, 19thcentury color plate books, americana, travel, sets and fine bindings, history, and authors manuscripts and letters. They bore photographs and were distributed, kept, and even collected as souvenirs of raciallycharged crimes i. The lynchings in d uluth is a powerful reminder of the broader american pattern. Isaac mcghie 19001920 elmer jackson 19011920 elias clayton 19011920 when the circus came to town, irene tusken, 19, and james sullivan, 18, both white, went that night.
But duluth is still quiet about its other lynching. The duluth school district did not ban the books from the schools. Two local teenagers, irene tusken, age 19, and james jimmie sullivan, 18, met at the circus and ended up behind the big top, watching the black workers dismantle the menagerie tent, load wagons and generally get the circus ready. Bob dylans song desolation row recalls the lynching. On the evening of june 15, 1920, in duluth, minnesota, three young black men, accused of the rape of a white woman, were pulled from their jail cells and lynched by a mob numbering in the thousands. Duluth collectible minnesota postcards for sale ebay. Postcard image of the lynching of elias clayton, elmer jackson, and. The lynching postcard was part of a private collection of postcards, glass negatives and other duluth memorabilia entrusted to local dealer craig lipinski for sale after the owner died, lipinski. After the duluth lynching in 1920, a graphic photograph of three black men killed by being hanged from a light pole was distributed as a postcard. Postcard of a lynching text written on the back of the postcard this is the barbecue we had last night, my picture is to the left with a cross over it. Many lynching photos ended up being depicted on postcards. On the evening of june 15, 1920, isaac mcghie, elmer jackson, and elias claytonthree young african american men who had been accused of raping a white womanwere pulled from their jail cells in duluth, minnesota, and lynched by a mob of. A chilling reconstruction of a 1920 racial tragedy.
In 2005 the senate formally apologized for failing to act on some 200 antilynching bills. After dropping two books with racial slurs, a painful turning of the page in duluth the school districts move to drop two beloved books has raised questions and debate about who decides the canon. Michael w fedo on the evening of june 15, 1920, in duluth, minnesota, three young black men, accused of the rape of a white woman, were pulled from their jail cells and lynched by a mob numbering in the thousands. Dec 04, 2003 duluth, minn, which has only 1,415 black people among population of 86,000, is forced to confront issue of race after a momument is erected to three black circus workers who were lynched there in. Lewis set his story in a fictional northern minnesota city, an awful lot like duluth.
The memorial is very near the site where the lynching took place. Oct 06, 2008 duluth tucked into a collection of duluth memorabilia for sale at a canal park antique store is a souvenir of one of the most shameful incidents in the citys history. Lynchings in the united states rose in number after the american civil war in the late 19th century, following the emancipation of slaves. New listing ski jump tournament duluth, minnesota vintage postcard.
Postcard of the duluth lynching on june 14, 1920, the james robinson circus arrived in duluth for a performance. On the warm summer night of june 14, irene tusken, age nineteen, and james sullivan, eighteen, went to the circus in duluth. But on june 15, 1920, three african americans, elias clayton, elmer jackson, and isaac mcghie, were lynched in duluth, minnesota. Hundredyear commemoration of duluth lynching could see. But is erecting memorials to lynching victims is the right way to. Moorhead, minnesota during the dark days after three african americans were lynched by an angry mob in duluth, minnesota, a sepiatoned postcard was sold depicting.
Jun 14, 2018 duluth lynching brings white man and black woman together 98 years later. Lynching photography in america james allen, james allen, john lewis, leon f. This photograph was turned into a postcard and sold following the june 1920 lynchings in duluth. It is a period of heightened racial conflict across the country. Dec, 2012 in the 1920 duluth lynching june 15th 1920 thousands of white americans in duluth, minnesota took part in the murder of three black men. That evening, three of them elias clayton, elmer jackson, and isaac mcghie. Some of the onlookers who posed for the camera after the lynching of three black men in downtown duluth on june 15, 1920. Duluth lynching anniversary minnesota public radios chris julin reports on shameful and largely forgotten piece of history from 1920, when a mob. The multiple lynchings in duluth, minnesota, however, represent the farthest north this practice reached. Traveling by train, the circus was greeted by an eager crowd upon arrival in duluth. I think this was a sears store or a hardware store. Back in the 1940s, sinclair lewis moved to duluth after hed won the nobel prize for literature. On june 15, 1920, three africanamerican circus workers, elias clayton, elmer jackson, and.
Up to a tenth of the citys residents clogged the street in front of the police station to witness the hanging. They were in town for a free street parade and one day of performances on june 14, 1920. This updated, second edition of the lynchings in duluth includes a new preface by the author, additional research and notes, and suggestions for further reading. The book has essays from hilton als, leon litwack and congressman john lewis. The back reads, this was made in the court yard in center, texas. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate a group. The story about the lynchings is told in the 1979 book the lynchings in duluth, by michael fedo.
As new lynching memorial opens, a look back on americas. Apr 26, 2018 how white americans used lynchings to terrorize and control black people lynching of a black man, 1882. Lynching is widely believed to be something that only happened in the south. The greatgrandson of one of the duluth lynchers wrote a book several years ago called the lyncher in me. An estimates 1,00010,000 people were in the mob that stormed the jail, took the men to be beaten and killed. Just fyi, your evidence of lynchings in the us south is a lynching in duluth, minnesota. Vintage 1922 park point snowstorm rppc postcard duluth mn minnesota real photo. Beforehand there were rumours that black people had raped a teenager.
Combining hourbyhour, daybyday narrative with expert scholarship based on interviews, suppressed documents and news reports, fedo skillfully portrays northern prejudice. Dylan was born in duluth but grew up in hibbing, minnesota. The bench was added in accord with a memorial that was dedicated in downtown duluth in 2003. A colorized postcard of the lynching of virgil jones, robert jones, thomas jones, and joseph riley on july 31, 1908 in russellville, kentucky. John haynes holmes, one the founding members of the naacp.
That evening, three of them elias clayton, elmer jackson, and isaac mcghie are taken from jail by a mob and lynched. A photo of the three men who had been lynched was made into postcards at the time and shown throughout duluth. The lynching postcard was part of a private collection of postcards, glass negatives and other duluth memorabilia entrusted to local dealer craig lipinski for sale after the owner died. The john robinson circus made its way to duluth on. The lynchings in duluth by michael fedo overdrive rakuten. Lynching postcards were produced for more than fifty years in the united states. Legacy of a northern lynching high plains reader, fargo nd. A physician who examined the girl found no evidence of rape or assault the killings shocked the country, particularly because they had occurred in the northern united states, four lynchings had occurred in. It is not far from the location where the atrocities took place.
Virgil jones, robert jones, thomas jones and joseph riley. Triple lynching in duluth, minnesota june 15th, 20 headsman on this date in 1920, a white mob perhaps 10,000 strong swarmed into the duluth, minn. The lynchings in duluth is a powerful reminder of the broader american pattern. The story is getting a lot of attention after decades of silence. By the 1920s lynchings of african americans had become a standard practice across the nation. Duluth lynching postcard these lynchings occurred on june 15, 1920, when three black circus workers were attacked and lynched by a mob in duluth, minnesota. The postcards were in use during the first half of the 20th century, but were. Nash, 32, of duluth is the greatgranddaughter of irene tusken rosemond anderson, who as a young woman claimed to have been raped by six black circus workers in duluth. Lewis worked on his novel, kingsblood royal, in duluth, and he interviewed eddie nichols and other black people about their memories of the lynching. Awesome woman never spoke of duluth lynchings duluth. In the song, the lynching image mingles with other pictures that continue to haunt old and new listeners. Lynching is a premeditated extrajudicial killing by a group.
This is where the mob broke in, says michael fedo, who wrote a book about the 1920 lynchings. It stayed in the local news for months during the criminal trials that followed. Please be advised that there are graphic still photos of lynchings in the slideshow below. Afterwards tusken went home, briefly talked to her parents and went to bed. Website featuring photographs and descriptions from the book without sanctuary by james allen, with postcards of lynchings in america. The lynching took place almost precisely 81 years ago, on 15 june 1920. Postcard souvenirs were often made to commemorate lynchings at least two were made of the duluth crimes. The mens gravesites had no markers until the early nineties. Minnesota historical society the one that quite stood out is the fellow whos to the left of the bodies who is beaming. Dec 18, 2014 postcard depicting the lynching of lige daniels, center, texas, usa, august 3, 1920. Combining hourbyhour, daybyday narrative with expert scholarship based on interviews, suppressed documents. While these photos are germane to the subject matter, some viewers. In 1920, duluth is home to a small black community.
Duluths new police chief acknowledges greataunts role in 1920 lynching. Jul 03, 2006 are lynching memorials a fitting remembrance. Duluth police chief addresses his link to 1920 lynching. Resources related to the tragic events surrounding the duluth lynchings of june 15, 1920. The 1920 duluth lynchings occurred when a mob attacked and lynched three black circus workers in duluth, minnesota. That does not make lynching any lesser horrific, but might explain how the photo came to be a postcard.
Hundredyear commemoration of duluth lynching could see 10,000person rally pdd news sieve sep 22, 2019 no comments share its been nearly 100 years since elias clayton, elmer jackson and isaac mcghie were falsely accused, taken by force from the old duluth jail, and lynched by an estimated 10,000 community members at the intersection where. On june 15, 1920, police arrest several young black men accused of raping a white woman. This account of the lynchings that took place in duluth shows that the mentality necessary for such events was not particular to any region. The lynchings on june 15, 1920, police arrest several young black men accused of raping a white woman. Around the turn of the last century, many white people in the united states were eager to draw a thick, bold line separating the races. Below is a picture of a postcard of a lynching sent by the klu klux klan to rev. Rumors had circulated among the mob that six african americans had raped a teenage girl. The postcard message, indicates that holmes would be added to the mailing list and that he could expect to receive a post card about once a month. Duluth, minnesota, the site of a triple lynching, has. Lynching is widely believed to be something that happened only in the south. Rumors of the rape spread through duluth like wildfire, and a mob of angry whites formed. But on june 15, 1920, three african americans, elias clayton, elmer jackson, and isaac mcghie, were lynched in duluth.
This account of racial violence in the early twentieth century is a genuinely startling and illuminating contribution to our understanding of racial justice in the united states in. Duluth store sells postcard of 1920 lynching twin cities. Jun 14, 2016 the duluth lynching, in particular, has haunted those connected to it in various ways. Minnesotas black community establishes the duluth branch of the naacp and campaigns for anti lynching legislation.
Two of the victims are still hanging while the third is laid on the ground. A lynching of three circus workers in duluth, minnesota in 1920 inspired. Duluth tucked into a collection of duluth memorabilia for sale at a canal park antique store is a souvenir of one of the most shameful incidents in the citys history. Postcards of lynchings were popular in the us german. Javascript must be enabled to view this email address news january 26th, 2018 editors note. To this list may now be added the duluth lynchings online resource, a striking web site created by the minnesota historical society. By the time this story reaches doorsteps and browsers, the 34member contingent sent to represent duluth at the opening of a national lynching memorial ought to be home. I saw a few minutes of history channel showing huge group of kkk parading in front of washington monument. Buy the lynchings in duluth borealis books by fedo, michael, green, william d. James fallows, the atlantic a chilling reconstruction of a 1920 racial tragedy. Jun 15, 2001 duluth lynching from the postcard photographed in june, 1920.
Most lynchings were of africanamerican men in the southern united states, but women and nonblacks were also lynched, not always in the south. After six hours of interrogation, thurmond confessed and named his accomplice, john m. Postcards of lynchings illustrate madness baltimore sun. Reads book, the lyncher in me, was published in march 2008. Our stock covers a wide range of collecting interests, with particular emphasis in the following fields. Lynching is the practice of murder by a group of people by extrajudicial action.
Media for the june 15, 1920, lynching of three african american circus workers in duluth, minnesota. Postcard of the 1920 duluth, minnesota lynching of elias clayton, elmer jackson and isaac mcghie, black circus workers accused of robbery and rape of which a physician found no evidence. Photo courtesy of minnesota historical society on a june night in 1920, hundreds of angry men and thousands of curious onlookers surrounded the downtown headquarters of the duluth police department. Opinion a lynching memorial unveiled in duluth the new. Fedo, a duluth native and former correspondent for the new york times, retells the story of the lynching of three black men for the alleged rape of a white woman in duluth, mn in 1920, based on newspaper accounts, court records, state files, and interviews with witnesses. As new lynching memorial opens, a look back on americas history of racial terrorism we listen back to interviews with historian philip dray, author of. Media in category 1920 duluth lynchings the following 10 files are in this category, out of 10 total.
The victims of the 1920 duluth lynchings zenith city online. Englishnat old postcards depicting lynchings in the united states have gone on display at an exhibition in new york. On june 15, 1920, three africanamerican circus workers, elias clayton, elmer jackson, and isaac mcghie, suspects in an assault case, were taken from jail and lynched by a white mob of thousands in duluth, minnesota. Two of the black victims are still hanging while the. America is filled with monuments commemorating its past and documenting its history. A treatise against the horror of lynching was one of the more popular oratories memorized and recited at denfeld high school. In the 1920 duluth lynching june 15th 1920 thousands of white americans in duluth, minnesota took part in the murder of three black men isaac mcghie 19001920 elmer jackson 19011920 elias clayton 19011920 when the circus came to town, irene tusken, 19, and james sullivan, 18, both white, went that night. Two years earlier, at the tail end of world war i, a small mob tarred and feathered a finnish working man in duluth, and hanged him from a tree. A physician who examined the girl found no evidence of rape or assault. Years later, the three victims are finally properly laid to rest.
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