poised to give visitors a clear historical perspective unlike any other.” – Doris Turner, Springfield Illinois Ward 3 Alderman
Route History also highlights the historical treasures of Springfield; two of which include the Ambidexter House and the Lincoln’s Colored Home. The Ambidexter House coined the “Tuskegee of the North” and modeled after Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute, trained and educated Black students specializing in math and science. Unfortunately, due to funding challenges, the Ambidexter House closed in 1908.
In 1898 Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe, a Black social work pioneer, started Illinois’ first Black orphanage in Springfield. In 1904 on the same land as the original building, the Lincoln’s Colored Home was built. From 1904 to 1933, Ms. Monroe administered Lincoln’s Colored Home and provided African American orphaned children and homeless senior citizens food, clothing, and shelter in a family-style setting.
Ms. Monroe pioneered efforts that established models of care, protection, and inclusion for African American children and the elderly in systems of care. During the month of April, Route History will launch a statewide celebration and acknowledgment of Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe through the “Thank You Ms. Eva” Tour. The purpose of the tour is to heighten awareness, celebrate, and recognize Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe for her service and contributions to the field of health and human services.
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“Springfield Illinois’ history is forever linked to Abraham Lincoln and Route 66; however, the African American perspective is often missing. Route History provides an opportunity to identify, research, collect, house, maintain, and interpret that historical perspective ensuring that it is not lost.” –Doris Turner, Springfield Illinois Ward 3 Alderman
The owners of Route History are a collective of social entrepreneurs who lend economic and intellectual resources to aid in the implementation of sustainable and transformative community projects. For Route History’s 2019 Sustaining and Transforming Communities’ project, proceeds from the Lincoln’s Colored Home t-shirt will be donated to select youth education programs.
“We want to ensure that Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe’s contribution to the city of Springfield, the state of Illinois, and the field of health and human services is recognized and that we speak her name. She left an amazing legacy and we want to continue her mission of supporting, protecting, and caring for children.”- Stacy Grundy, Route History Co-owner
For additional information on Route History go to www.routehistory.net
