Old Aristocracy Hill in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fair Housing for All

Equal Housing Opportunity

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 22, 2025

1. Fair Housing for All Marker

Inscription.

Fair Housing for All. Equal Housing Opportunity. , On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII made it illegal to discriminate in renting or selling property based on race, color, religion, or national origin. , In the years since its signing, The Fair Housing Act has added protections based on sex, disability and familial status. , The Act was an important step in a long process of creating equal access to housing, but it came after decades of efforts to keep immigrants and minorities out of neighborhoods. In the early 1900s, some cities prohibited African Americans from living in certain areas. In 1917, these ordinances were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as violations of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. , While the Supreme Court's decision was important, the ruling failed to address the ability of property owners to discriminate against those who wanted to buy or rent homes. , As the numbers of African Americans and immigrants from eastern and southern European nations arriving in cities swelled in the early 1900s, efforts to prevent people from living in certain neighborhoods resulted in the use of restrictive contracts. Included in the deed to a property, these legal clauses prevented an owner from selling to a member of specified groups. These usually Included African Americans and members of non-Christian faiths or certain nationalities. , Such restrictions were embraced by early real estate organizations, and had broad governmental support. In 1935, a federal agency supported property owners' rights to determine who they could sell or rent to, fearing that "infiltration of inharmonious racial or nationality groups" into neighborhoods could lower property values. , In 1948 the Supreme Court ruled these deed restrictions to be unenforceable. Discrimination continued in lending and other areas, ultimately leading to the passage of the Fair Housing Act. , A century after the death of Abraham Lincoln, his vision of an America that would "lift artificial weights from all shoulders" and "afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance" moved closer to reality. ,

"Now, with this bill, the voice of justice speaks again. It proclaims that fair housing for all-all human beings who live in this country-is now a part of the American way of life." , - President Lyndon B. Johnson

On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Title VIII made it illegal to discriminate in renting or selling property based on race, color, religion, or national origin.

In the years since its signing, The Fair Housing Act has added protections based on sex, disability and familial status.

The Act was an important step in a long process of creating equal access to housing, but it came after decades of efforts to keep immigrants and minorities out of neighborhoods. In the early 1900s, some cities prohibited African Americans from living in certain areas. In 1917, these ordinances were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court as violations of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

While the Supreme Court's decision was important, the ruling failed to address the ability of property owners to discriminate against those who wanted to buy or rent homes.

As the numbers of African Americans and immigrants from eastern and southern European nations arriving in cities swelled in the early 1900s, efforts to prevent people from living in certain neighborhoods resulted in the use of restrictive contracts. Included in the deed to a property, these legal clauses prevented an owner from selling to a member of specified groups. These usually Included

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African Americans and members of non-Christian faiths or certain nationalities.

Such restrictions were embraced by early real estate organizations, and had broad governmental support. In 1935, a federal agency supported property owners' rights to determine who they could sell or rent to, fearing that "infiltration of inharmonious racial or nationality groups" into neighborhoods could lower property values.

In 1948 the Supreme Court ruled these deed restrictions to be unenforceable. Discrimination continued in lending and other areas, ultimately leading to the passage of the Fair Housing Act.

A century after the death of Abraham Lincoln, his vision of an America that would "lift artificial weights from all shoulders" and "afford all, an unfettered start, and a fair chance" moved closer to reality.

"Now, with this bill, the voice of justice speaks again. It proclaims that fair housing for all-all human beings who live in this country-is now a part of the American way of life."
- President Lyndon B. Johnson

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1968.

Location. 39° 47.835′ N, 89° 38.942′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in Sangamon County. It is in

Photographed by Thomas Smith, September 22, 2025

2. Fair Housing for All Marker

Old Aristocracy Hill. It is at the intersection of South 5th Street and East Jackson Street, on the left when traveling south on South 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 522 S 5th St, Springfield IL 62701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Let Us Own Ourselves, Our Earning, Our Genius" (here, next to this marker); Aiding Orphans and Widows (here, next to this marker); The Springfield Race Riot of 1908 (here, next to this marker); The 21-Star Flag (here, next to this marker); "An Agreeable Assemblage of Dwelling Houses" (here, next to this marker); Three First Ladies Make a Difference (here, next to this marker); Architect of the People's House (here, next to this marker); A Place of Many Peoples (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 45 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 2, 2025, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.