Home > Back to Search Results >
John Willis Menard is the first African-American member of the House...
John Willis Menard is the first African-American member of the House...
Item # 599551
Currently Unavailable. Contact us if you would like to be placed on a want list or to be notified if a similar item is available.
March 01, 1869
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, March 1, 1869
* 1st Negro to make speech in Congress
John Willis Menard has the distinction of being the first African-American to be elected to the House of Representatives, representing Louisiana, and consequently on February 27 he became the first to address the chamber.
This issue has a nice front page report of this notable event under the heading "Washington" with a portion of the text reading: "...Great interest was manifested for the reason that one of the contestants was a full-blooded negro, J. Willis Menard by name. Leave was given him to address the House in his own behalf, which he did, occupying the floor for 15 minutes. The galleries were crowded and the House gave him its undivided attention, he being the first negro in the history of the country to whom the privilege was granted of addressing the House of Representatives. He was very modest in his remarks..." with more.
A very notable event in African-American history, and reported just two days after the event.
Eight pages, nice condition.
Category: Post-Civil War
No Longer Available
