Bronzeville in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr.
1935-1967
| | Bronzeville Walk of Fame | |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
1. Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence Jr. Marker
Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Air & Space. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 2, 1935.
Location. 41° 49.85′ N, 87° 37.029′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bronzeville. It is at the intersection of South Martin Luther King Drive and 35th Street, in the median on South Martin Luther King Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Truman Gibson Sr. / Truman Gibson Jr. (here, next to this marker); Victory, World War I Black Soldiers Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Lt. George Giles (a few steps from this marker); Col. Franklin A. Denison (a few steps from this marker); Earl Fatha Hines (within shouting distance of this marker); Supreme Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Bronzeville
this page online
More about this marker. Roughly 100 Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers are found around the neighborhood. This is one of a handful located near Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I.
Regarding Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr.. Robert Henry Lawrence Jr. was born and raised in Chicago. He graduated at age 16 from Englewood High School and four years later received his bachelor's in chemistry from Bradley University. An RTOC member during college, Lawrence became an Air Force pilot after graduation. In June 1967, he became the first African American selected for the astronaut program. Lawrence died on December 8, 1967, when the F-104 Starfighter supersonic jet he was flying on as an instructor for another pilot crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Lawrence is buried in Chicago's Graceland Cemetery.
Also see . . . NASA: Robert Lawrence: First African-American Astronaut.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
2. Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers in front of Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I
The Lawrence marker is one of a handful near Victory.
Courtesy of the United States Air Force
3. Robert H. Lawrence Jr. (1935-1967)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on April 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
