38 Miles North and South of Chicago Exhibit Up Until March 1
38 Miles North and South of Chicago Exhibit is On Display Until March 1 in Joliet
Published: January 5, 2024.
Joliet Area Historical Museum visitors can view a comparative look at the African American history of Joliet and Lake Forest through March 1 with the exhibit “38 Miles North and South of Chicago.” Both communities began in the mid-1800s and were served by strong, self-supporting organizations, led from within the Black community.
and The Lewis University History Center collaborated to tell the important stories with the help of several partners (Second Baptist Church, Mount Zion Baptist Church, the National Hook-up of Black Women Joliet Inc., and Warren-Sharpe Community Center); generous grantors (Illinois Humanities, the Grainger Foundation, the American Historical Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities), and student researchers from Lewis University and Lake Forest College.
“Joliet and Lake Forest have been home to African Americans since before the cities’ formal incorporations. Despite these deep-rooted histories, the Black communities have often been on the periphery of historical narrative,” Dr. Dennis Cremin, director of The Lewis University History Center, commented.
"‘38 Miles North and South’” seeks to address this exclusion by highlighting the contributions of African Americans to the region's diversity,” Morgan Jennings, Lewis University History alumna and former grant student coordinator, added. The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation partially funded the exhibit through its “Broadening Narratives" initiative.
These joint exhibits showcase the troubling history involved in the practices of disenfranchisement and systematic racism. Yet, they conclude with a story of resilience and community.
The shared exhibition will be displayed at the Joliet Area Historical Museum from January 12 through March 1 in honor of Black History Month. Admission is free on Martin Luther King Day, January 15. Visit for museum hours and more information.
Lewis University is an innovative Catholic university offering market-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs to 6,500 students. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis University is nationally recognized for preparing intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, and globally-connected graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit for further information.
