State Reports                                                              

Generations of Pride: African-Americans in Illinois/A Selected Chronology, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield 62701-1507 (February 1995), 12pp.

This collection of dates, names and facts alerts us to the contributions of African Americans in the state's history. Sometime in 1720 the first African Americans to come to Illinois were brought by Philippe Renault, who had purchased them in Santo Domingo to work in his mines. A hundred years later the U.S. Census showed 1,374 blacks living in Illinois; of these, 917 were slaves and 457 were free persons of color.

In 1865 the Illinois General Assembly repealed the state's black laws and became the first state legislature to ratify the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. Roland Burris was the first black elected to a statewide constitutional office, and in 1982 he was re-elected as comptroller, leading the statewide ticket. Ten years later Carol Moseley-Braun became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

•A Guide to Meeting and Lodging Accommodations for People with Disabilities, Department of Rehabilitation Services, 623 E. Adams, Springfield 62701 (January 1995), 122pp.

The Department of Rehabilitation Services has devised a site survey checklist based on the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and the Environmental Barriers Act. DORS also trained 50 summer students to conduct site surveys; identified hotels, motels and conference sites to be surveyed; and conducted almost 100 surveys. Information on each site is contained on a single page and includes such information as the number of lodging rooms that are accessible and whether the elevators are marked with tactile symbols, telephones have voice amplifiers and lodging rooms are equipped with emergency flashing alarms.

The report also contains the addresses and phone numbers of the 20 centers for independent living located throughout the state. The centers are advocates for persons with disabilities and serve as community resources for technical assistance and education.

36/July 1995/Illinois Issues