Douglas in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Earl B. Dickerson
1891-1986
| — | Bronzeville Walk of Fame | — |
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 28, 2026
1. Earl B. Dickerson Marker
Attorney, alderman
Executive, Supreme Life Insurance Co.
Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 41° 49.879′ N, 87° 37.009′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas. It is on East 35th Street near South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3457 South Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Chicago’s South Side and in Chicago’s Bronzeville. It is also in the American Midwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bronzeville (within shouting distance of this marker); The Boulevard System (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bronzeville (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Gillespie (within shouting distance of this marker); Supreme Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Col. Franklin A. Denison (within shouting distance of this marker); Lt. George Giles (within shouting distance of this marker); Truman Gibson Sr. / Truman Gibson Jr. (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
Also see . . .
1. Who was Earl B. Dickerson?. A biography from the University of Chicago Library.
Excerpt: "Dickerson fought racial discrimination and segregation in employment, education, and housing, most notably in the case Hansbury v. Lee (1940) in which the U.S. Supreme Court, struck down racially restrictive covenants in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. "(Submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Earl B. Dickerson papers.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 28, 2026
2. Earl B. Dickerson Marker at the corner of 35th Street and King Drive
The Victory memorial to Bronzeville's World War I veterans can be seen in the background on the right. Dickerson was a second lieutenant during the war and served in France as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces. When he returned in 1918, he founded Bronzeville's local American Legion post, George L. Giles Post 87.
3. Earl B. Dickerson Awards. The Chicago Bar Association issues the Dickerson Award annually to minority lawyers and judges. (Submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
The Office of War Information, courtesy of the Library of Congress, 1945
3. Earl B. Dickerson (middle)
Dickerson is in the man in the middle of this World War II-era photograph. The caption from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy states: "Ferdinand Smith, national secretary, National Maritime Union. He is from New York; Alderman Earl B Dickerson of Chicago, a member of the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practices; and Donald M. Nelson, Chairman of the War Production Board. These two men came in on an appointment arranged by Phil Murray to present to Mr. Nelson, a plan for making fuller use of the African-American man-power in war production."
Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 29, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
