Papers, 1847-1997.

ArchivalResource

Papers, 1847-1997.

Robert S. Abbott founded the Chicago Defender in 1905; his nephew, John H. Sengstacke, took over family's newspapers on Abbott's death in 1940. The papers trace the Abbott-Sengstacke family history from the mid-19th century in Georgia through Abbott's move to Chicago and creation of a journalistic empire, to the death of Sengstacke in 1997. The papers are arranged in three superseries: Robert Abbott, John Sengstacke, and Myrtle Sengstacke. Extensive documentation of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the Chicago Defender, the Pittsburgh Courier, the Michigan Chronicle, Provident Hospital, and the political history of Chicago is included. The papers feature correspondence, manuscripts, organizational and subject research files, biographical materials, programs, clippings and memorabilia. A large collection of photographs will be opened in late 2009.

179 linear feet (251 archival boxes)

Related Entities

There are 8 Entities related to this resource.

Sengstacke, John Herman Henry, 1912-1997

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bp47zs (person)

Abbott family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hr37sd (family)

National Newspaper Publishers Association (U.S.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dr7kzc (corporateBody)

Sengstacke family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hf74kw (family)

Amalgamated Publishers, Inc.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6189w8n (corporateBody)

Sengstacke, Myrtle.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hx5k2m (person)

Provident Hospital (Chicago, Ill.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r83pg3 (corporateBody)

Abbott, Robert S. (Robert Sengstacke), 1868-1940

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61z89sv (person)

Robert Sengstacke Abbott (1868-1940) was born in Frederica, St. Simon's Island, Georgia to former slaves. After his father's death in 1869 his mother Flora moved to Savannah, Georgia and married John H.H. Sengstacke. In 1889, Robert enrolled in Hampton Institute's printing trade program and later earned a bachelor's degree. Frustrated by racial discrimination he moved to Chicago and founded the Chicago Defender in 1905. He used his paper to speak out against racial injustice and support equal op...