FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Laura García-Culler, Executive Vice President
912.651.2125, or Email

Boyhood Home of Noted African-American Journalist Robert Sengstacke Abbott Recognized With New Historical Marker

Savannah, GA, August 20, 2008 -- The Georgia Historical Society and the City of Savannah will unveil the city’s newest historical marker at the former site of Robert Sengstacke Abbott’s boyhood home on the corner of West Bay and Albion Streets on August 26, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. In 1905, Abbott, a prominent civil rights activist and journalist, founded the Chicago Defender, one of the nation’s largest and most influential black weekly newspapers. In 1956, it became the United States’ first black daily newspaper, the Chicago Daily Defender.

Robert Sengstacke Abbott Boyhood Home
Founder of the Chicago Defender

From 1878 to 1889, Robert Sengstacke Abbott lived in the parsonage of Pilgrim Congregational Church, once located on this site. His stepfather, John H.H. Sengstacke, minister of the church, published the Woodville Times. Abbott learned the printing trade here and developed his commitment to equal rights for African Americans. In 1905, he founded the Chicago Defender, a newspaper that revolutionized African-American journalism. He fought to abolish Jim Crow laws and establish a non-discriminatory society. The Defender played a major role in initiating the Great Migration (1915-1919) of approximately 1.3 million blacks to northern cities.

Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and the City of Savannah

2008.7 25-33

Historical markers, which recognize people, places and events, tell the story of Georgia's past in a format that is accessible to residents and visitors alike and are an effective tool for economic development, encouraging local tourism and general state-wide interest. GHS has administered Georgia's historical marker program since 1998, erecting nearly 150 markers statewide.

The Georgia Historical Society, headquartered in Savannah, is the oldest cultural institution in the state and one of the oldest historical organizations in the nation. It is the first and only statewide historical society in Georgia. For nearly 175 years, GHS has collected, preserved, and shared Georgia history through a variety of educational outreach programs, publications, and research services. For more information visit: www.georgiahistory.com.