World's Fairs

ICHi-173875

Page 1 of the American Negro Exposition Report featuring portraits of Exposition Authority, 1940. From the Claude A. Barnett papers [manuscript], 1918-1967, bulk 1928-1963.

The American Negro Exposition, also known as the Black World's Fair and the Diamond Jubilee Exposition, was a world's fair hosted in Chicago to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. The displays highlighted achievements in the arts, sciences, and business. The  fair ran from July-September 1940 and was conceived by real estate developer James Washington as a rebuttal to stereotypes depicted during the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition.

• Arthur W. Mitchell papers [manuscript], 1898-1968, bulk 1934-1942
• Claude A. Barnett broadsides collection. Call number: 1980.0213 PFL
• Claude A. Barnett papers [manuscript], 1918-1967, bulk 1928-1963
• Cavalcade of the American Negro / compiled by the workers of the Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Illinois; frontispiece by Adrian Troy of the Illinois Art Project. Call number: E185.6 .W92
• Miscellaneous pamphlets from the American Negro Exposition, 1940. Call number: E185.6.C4 Z OVERSIZE

Other local resources:

• Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection ( at CPL's Carter G. Woodson Regional Library)