18 10 894 People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Du Bois, Charles G. Description An account of the resource Charles Gilbert Du Bois was an American business executive whose career reflected the rapid expansion of the telecommunications industry in the early twentieth century. A longtime resident of Englewood, New Jersey, he rose from an entry-level clerk to become president and later chairman of the board of the Western Electric Company, one of the principal manufacturing arms of the Bell telephone system. Born on March 22, 1870, in Randolph, Vermont, Du Bois was the son of William H. Du Bois, a banker who also served as Vermont’s State Treasurer, and Anne Eliza Gilbert Du Bois. He was educated in Randolph’s public schools and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1891. That same year, he began working for Western Electric in New York at a modest salary of ten dollars per week. After a brief return to Vermont in the mid-1890s due to health concerns—during which he worked in banking—Du Bois rejoined Western Electric and steadily advanced through the company’s ranks. By the late 1890s he was overseeing accounting operations in Chicago. His expertise in financial systems became a defining feature of his career. In the early 1900s he traveled to Europe to examine factory accounting practices connected to Western Electric’s international operations. Upon returning to the United States, he organized a national distribution system for standardized equipment, helping streamline supply operations across the country. In 1907 Du Bois left Western Electric to become controller of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T). There he developed accounting methods that were implemented throughout the Bell System, contributing to its administrative cohesion during a period of rapid growth. During World War I, he temporarily left corporate life to serve as controller of the American Red Cross in Washington and advised the War Department on financial administration. Du Bois returned to Western Electric in 1918 as a vice president and director, and in 1919 he became president, succeeding H. B. Thayer. Under his leadership, the company expanded dramatically. Revenues nearly doubled, the workforce increased substantially, and major facilities—including the large manufacturing plant in Kearny, New Jersey—were developed. In 1921 he was named chairman of the board. He stepped down as president in 1926 and retired fully the following year. Beyond Western Electric, Du Bois held leadership or board positions in numerous financial, insurance, and industrial organizations. He also served as a trustee of Dartmouth College and supported several philanthropic and medical institutions, including the Englewood Hospital. Locally, he was connected to civic and media enterprises in Bergen County. Du Bois died at age seventy from complications related to pneumonia at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. He was survived by his wife, Sue Sanford Du Bois, and their children. His career traced the rise of corporate telecommunications management in the United States, illustrating how financial systems and administrative organization were central to the growth of modern industry. “Charles G. Du Bois, Industrialist, Dies; Retired President of Western Electric Co. and Chairman of Board Stricken at 70 Once $10-a-Week Clerk Served as Controller of A.T. & T. Co. for a Time—An Ex-War Department Official.” New York Times, December 24, 1940. https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/bee8c89fbd5be4fafc614c594490f29f.png ae3d638cd6da80e2e7a35a43daed69a0 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/5cf29ff9c1690bf90087f63ed1ceab63.jpg 9bef766e32275486b1ffe88ec216aaf2 Event A non-persistent, time-based occurrence. Metadata for an event provides descriptive information that is the basis for discovery of the purpose, location, duration, and responsible agents associated with an event. Examples include an exhibition, webcast, conference, workshop, open day, performance, battle, trial, wedding, tea party, conflagration. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource W.E.B. Du Bois Speaks at the Englewood Woman's Club, December 8, 1930. Subject The topic of the resource W.E.B. DuBois, Racial Uplift, Harlem Renaissance Description An account of the resource When W. E. B. Du Bois traveled from New York to Englewood in December 1930 to address the Englewood Woman’s Club, the visit connected suburban Bergen County to Harlem’s intellectual and cultural circles, underscoring the reach of Du Bois’s influence and the seriousness of the occasion. His lecture, “The Contribution of the Negro to the American Race,” struck directly at a persistent and damaging assumption — that Black Americans were a burden to the nation. Du Bois dismantled that idea with historical argument and concrete examples. He traced the country’s economic expansion to the labor of enslaved and formerly enslaved people, insisting that American prosperity had been built in no small part through Black hands. The development of agriculture, industry, and infrastructure, he argued, could not be separated from that contribution. Far from hindering the republic, African Americans had advanced it. He also emphasized innovation and industrial ingenuity. Black inventors, he noted, had played decisive roles in modernizing American manufacturing. Machinery developed by African American innovators had transformed production processes and enabled the United States to export millions of dollars’ worth of goods. These were not marginal contributions; they were integral to national growth. The afternoon’s program extended this argument beyond economics and into culture. Elizabeth Sinkford, a classically trained soprano based at 405 Edgecombe Avenue in New York City and connected to leading Black educational institutions, appeared as part of the presentation. Du Bois arranged transportation for the journey to and from Englewood, and accommodations were made so that her accompanist could travel as well. The performance was integrated into the structure of the event rather than added as ornament. The pairing of lecture and song was meaningful. As Du Bois articulated the intellectual and industrial contributions of African Americans, Sinkford’s performance embodied cultural refinement and artistic accomplishment. Together, they presented a unified demonstration of Black achievement — scholarly, economic, and artistic. In Englewood that day, Du Bois did more than deliver a speech. He asserted a claim about national identity. He insisted that Black Americans were not peripheral to American history but central to its making — builders of its wealth, contributors to its democracy, and cultivators of its culture. The event stands as a moment when Harlem’s intellectual and artistic leadership entered a suburban civic space and made that assertion unmistakably clear. “DuBois to Address Woman’s Club.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), December 9, 1930. Elizabeth Sinkford to W. E. B. Du Bois, December 5, 1930. W. E. B. Du Bois Papers (MS 312), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource James Purdy Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived National Portrait Gallery Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1907 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Clephane, Sarah People An individual. Metadata for a person provides detailed biographical information to describe the life of a historical figure. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Jackson, Barbara Loomis Description An account of the resource Dr. Barbara Loomis Jackson’s life reflected not only her own intellectual achievements but also the convergence of two prominent African American professional families whose influence extended across Detroit, Chicago, Englewood, and national educational circles. Barbara was born in Detroit to attorney Lloyd A. Loomis and Katherine Quaker Loomis. Her father was among the early generation of African American attorneys who broke professional barriers in the Midwest. Raised in Detroit, he worked as a newsboy in his youth before earning admission to the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1924. At a time when few Black attorneys held public office, Lloyd Loomis became one of the first African American assistant prosecuting attorneys in Wayne County and later served as an assistant attorney general of Michigan. His work placed him in prominent legal proceedings and positioned him within Michigan’s political leadership. Beyond the courtroom, Lloyd Loomis was deeply involved in civic and political life. A lifelong Republican, he served on the Wayne County Republican Committee and the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. He was affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha, active in the NAACP, and engaged in YMCA work. His career reflected a generation of African American professionals who believed that civic participation, education, and institutional involvement were essential tools in advancing racial equality. Barbara grew up in an environment where professional discipline, civic responsibility, and intellectual achievement were everyday expectations. Her marriage to William E. Jackson united the Loomis family with another distinguished African American family rooted in Chicago’s professional and civic leadership. William Jackson was the son of Alexander L. Jackson, a nationally respected figure in business and public life. Alexander Jackson had been valedictorian of his class at Harvard University and later became president of Provident Hospital in Chicago—one of the most significant African American-run medical institutions in the United States. He was also connected to the Chicago Defender, one of the most influential Black newspapers of the twentieth century, and remained active in civic and professional organizations. William E. Jackson continued the family’s tradition of academic excellence, graduating from Phillips Academy Andover and Harvard University (Class of 1947). The marriage of Barbara Loomis and William Jackson symbolized the joining of two accomplished Midwestern families whose histories reflected access to elite education and leadership roles at a time when such opportunities were rarely available to African Americans. While grounded in this legacy of achievement, Barbara Loomis Jackson forged a path that would become nationally significant in the field of education. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1950 and later earned advanced degrees from Columbia University, ultimately completing a Doctor of Education at Harvard University. Her professional career unfolded during the civil rights era, a time when educational systems across the nation were under pressure to confront segregation and inequality. Between 1964 and 1966, Dr. Jackson worked in the Englewood, New Jersey Public Schools during one of the most closely watched school reform efforts in the country. That same period saw the launch of a major curriculum reform initiative supported by the Ford Foundation, which awarded Englewood a $250,000 grant for a three-year study, with the city committing an additional $125,000 to support the effort. Educational leaders described Englewood as uniquely positioned to serve as a demonstration center because of its highly publicized struggle with segregation and its location within the New York metropolitan region. The reforms were intended not only to improve classroom instruction but also to demonstrate how integrated schools could maintain strong academic standards. The Ford-funded program introduced sweeping innovations across the district. Reading instruction was reorganized so that students could be grouped according to ability rather than grade level. Expanded programs were designed for both advanced learners and students needing additional academic support. New social studies curricula were developed to more accurately reflect the histories and contributions of diverse cultural groups, addressing longstanding concerns about the absence of minority perspectives in traditional textbooks. Plans were also made to rewrite instructional materials, expand summer programs into enrichment opportunities, and experiment with team teaching models and flexible class groupings. Additional innovations included the use of educational television, programmed learning systems, and early forms of data processing—tools that were considered cutting-edge for their time. Partnerships with colleges and universities, including Fairleigh Dickinson University, provided training opportunities for teachers and graduate students, while project leaders were hired to coordinate research and measure the impact of integrated education on student learning and community life. The program’s architects believed that Englewood’s work could serve as a model for suburban districts across the nation facing similar racial and educational challenges. Dr. Jackson’s role in Englewood placed her within the center of these groundbreaking reforms. Programs developed during this period—including team teaching structures, expanded early childhood initiatives, and innovative curriculum models—placed Englewood at the forefront of educational experimentation in the mid-1960s. In later years, she reflected that many of the initiatives tested during this period were ahead of their time, anticipating reforms that would not become widespread until decades later. Her career after Englewood continued to build on this foundation of innovation and leadership. She became involved in the Boston Model Cities Program, a major federal initiative designed to improve urban education and community development. She later joined Atlanta University, where she directed the Doctoral Program in Educational Administration and served as Associate Dean of the School of Education. In that role, she helped prepare future generations of school administrators, particularly those committed to improving educational opportunities in underserved communities. Dr. Jackson later joined the faculty at Fordham University, where she served as Professor of Educational Administration. Throughout her career, she maintained strong connections to national education policy, university leadership training, and urban school reform initiatives. Her leadership extended beyond universities. She became the first African American trustee of Wellesley College, helping to shape institutional governance at one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges. She served on numerous advisory boards and professional organizations and remained active in discussions about educational access, curriculum reform, and leadership development. In many ways, her life reflected a generational progression in African American professional leadership. Her father’s generation fought for entry into legal and political institutions. Her husband’s family built parallel professional and medical institutions that served Black communities. Barbara Loomis Jackson’s generation moved into leadership roles within major national educational systems, working to reshape those institutions from within. Dr. Barbara Loomis Jackson passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy defined by scholarship, institutional leadership, and commitment to educational opportunity. In keeping with her lifelong dedication to education, memorial contributions in her honor supported scholarships for African American students at Wellesley College and graduate students pursuing careers in educational leadership. Her life represents more than personal achievement. It reflects the maturation of the African American professional class in the twentieth century, the interconnection of influential Black families across Detroit and Chicago, and the transformation of civil rights ideals into lasting educational reform. Through both inherited legacy and individual accomplishment, Dr. Barbara Loomis Jackson stood at the intersection of history, leadership, and change. “Ford Foundation To Finance Englewood Curriculum Study.” The Record (Hackensack, New Jersey), April 9, 1964. “Barbara Jackson Named Associate Dean.” The Atlanta Voice, September 20, 1975. “Barbara, Bride To Be.” The Chicago Defender, April 22, 1950. “Hold Funeral for Mrs. Sina Jackson.” The Chicago Defender, May 13, 1933. “Jackson Boys Graduate From Harvard, Andover.” The Chicago Defender, June 12, 1943. “Loomises of Detroit Announce Daughter’s Betrothal.” Atlanta Daily World, April 5, 1950. “Pioneer of Change in School Patterns.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), August 27, 1971. “Pioneer of Change in School Patterns (Continued).” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), August 27, 1971. “Round Table Order to Address Clubs.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 27, 1920. “We Honor… Atty. Lloyd A. Loomis.” The Michigan Chronicle, February 20, 1943. “Wellesley Trustee.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), 1967. Jackson, Barbara Loomis. Obituary. Oberlin, Ohio, November 15, 2014. https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/a0f7ef0fbd25b2af26cde4acea5261c5.png d1264c9b99d1289fff7c15a592216f68 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/26304ffcc925117f58db2dfe8c5eaa15.png c97166e99e25986361807180aeb3b089 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/9d2991f6ac0212895a5e0985a632498d.png 38a4ef64819113f8bc0a8ca8e421a72a https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/038e25969ac345603ebc42a7010e4542.png 331663fc36531d5bc6c7aa3f081ab2a1 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/b185815cc8b3e487ed433be89ea03933.png 8276483b378904828524e5154a9e43a0 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/8dbb3fd3bcb3ff875612b1d562c372d4.png 5fc7882231011db22a49d41bf96bed33 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/31a5c81d822fd71f7873963f21b2154f.png 34294dc7f79bbbf9d2d390d7404218ae https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/04a1f8a3a019831654a6ec1b29a7a88a.png 1a99a84e21a7fe443c25dbd735d1d1d1 Event A non-persistent, time-based occurrence. Metadata for an event provides descriptive information that is the basis for discovery of the purpose, location, duration, and responsible agents associated with an event. Examples include an exhibition, webcast, conference, workshop, open day, performance, battle, trial, wedding, tea party, conflagration. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Jesse Jackson Dwight Morrow High School Rally, Memorial Day, May 30, 1988. Description An account of the resource Englewood Between Movement and Machinery: Jesse Jackson’s 1988 Visit and Local Political Dynamics In the stretch before New Jersey’s June 7, 1988 Democratic presidential primary, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s campaign brought national coalition politics into suburban landscapes. Among the towns Jackson visited, Englewood played an outsize role, both as a site of grassroots activity and as one of the only two municipalities in Bergen County where Jackson carried a majority of votes — a striking counterpoint to the county’s broader political leanings. While Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis entered the Garden State with organizational advantages and substantial support among party officials, Jackson’s strategy focused on turning out a broad cross-section of voters and building momentum through lively, community-centered events. His swing through New Jersey spanned Newark, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Paterson, Trenton, Camden, Asbury Park, and Plainfield, but Englewood remained a key local stronghold for his message. Jackson’s platform — ending the first use of nuclear weapons, shifting federal spending from defense to urban programs, confronting systemic racism, advocating affordable housing and education — was consistent across New Jersey. In Englewood, the themes resonated not only with adults but with families and children. Photographs from the Englewood gatherings reveal a vibrant grassroots culture at work. Children wore bright “KIDS FOR JESSE” shirts while adults and youth formed small prayer circles, clasped hands, and participated together in what looked more like a community festival than a typical campaign rally. One backyard pizza party — reportedly supported by actors Kim Fields and Giancarlo Esposito — became a space where local energy met national cultural visibility. The presence of these figures reinforced the campaign’s appeal, connecting suburban activism to wider Black cultural networks. These intimate images capture a dimension of Jackson’s organization that traditional press accounts often missed — the formation of political identity among families and children, the role of informal social spaces in building support, and the embodiment of the Rainbow Coalition as a lived, intergenerational experience. In Englewood, activism did not start and end with candidate speeches: it unfolded in backyard circles, around shared meals, and through youth engagement. Not all local political figures embraced Jackson with equal openness. Don Aronson — Englewood’s Democratic mayoral nominee at the time — exemplified the strategic caution of many Bergen County party actors. While he interacted with campaign events and local constituents, Aronson refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate until the outcome was clearer. His careful public neutrality reflected an effort to balance community engagement with political calculation. Local reports later indicated that, once the primary result became evident statewide, Aronson signaled his preference for Dukakis. This stance contrasts with the grassroots enthusiasm visible in neighborhood gatherings. While Jackson’s supporters channeled cultural and spiritual energy into local organizing, establishment figures chose calculated restraint to maintain broad future alliances. Englewood, in this sense, demonstrated the tension between insurgent coalition building and traditional party logistics. Jackson’s New Jersey campaign also sought to bridge divides stemming from his 1984 run. In Englewood, he addressed concerns about Jewish–Black relations by recounting how Black GIs helped liberate Nazi concentration camps in World War II and asking whether descendants of Holocaust victims and descendants of enslaved people might find common ground. In a community with an active Jewish population and civic presence, this message carried particular local significance. It reinforced both a historical appeal and a political one — one aimed at healing and coalition, rather than division. When the votes were counted on June 7, Englewood stood out. While Dukakis carried most of Bergen County and ultimately won the New Jersey primary, Jackson received a majority in Englewood — one of only two Bergen towns to do so. That outcome underscores not just the city’s symbolic alignment with his broader movement, but the effectiveness of local organizing, cross-cultural engagement, and the personal commitment of residents who invested themselves in his campaign. This victory in Englewood should not be read merely as a numerical footnote. It reflects a distinct political identity within the county — one shaped by grassroots activism, generational involvement, and the blending of national coalition politics with local community life. In the context of Englewood’s civic history, the 1988 visit was more than a campaign stop. It was a moment when national movements, local identities, and intergenerational politics converged — producing a result that echoed beyond the day’s vote and into the community’s political memory. (The photographs referenced are from the Helen Tinsley Collection.) David Wald, “Dukakis, Jackson Visiting State in Accelerated Primary Drive,” The Record, May 31, 1988. Primary election results summarized in coverage following June 7, 1988; see Peter Overby, “Small-City Concerns Lend Perspective to N.J. Primary,” The Record, June 1, 1988. Leslie Berger, “Jackson Plans 2 Visits to State,” The Record, May 8, 1988; Steven Fromm, “Rainbow Express Starts Without Candidate,” The Times (Trenton), May 26, 1988. David Blomquist, “Jackson: Fight Drugs, Not an Atomic War,” The Record, May 31, 1988. Peter Overby, “Small-City Concerns Lend Perspective to N.J. Primary,” The Record, June 1, 1988. “Jackson Issues Call for Unity Between Blacks and Jews,” The Jersey Journal, May 31, 1988; see also related coverage in The Star-Ledger, May 29, 1988. Peter Overby, The Record, June 1, 1988. Leslie Berger, The Record, May 8, 1988. Bergen County primary results, June 7, 1988; summarized in regional post-primary reporting. https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/3ee98dbdf4949cb43a5b305007a7aaf2.jpg 4b0b99c57111eb373c513fb75baf10db Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Englewood Automobile Dealers' Association Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Encounters in Black Traditions, Inc. Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The New Dimension Theater Studio https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/61d7cfaf8f7d61c432e22a6b1c0b3254.png f07014152dfc7b47816571293efd0f22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Music Event A non-persistent, time-based occurrence. Metadata for an event provides descriptive information that is the basis for discovery of the purpose, location, duration, and responsible agents associated with an event. Examples include an exhibition, webcast, conference, workshop, open day, performance, battle, trial, wedding, tea party, conflagration. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Paul Robeson's Performance at the Plaza Theater (January 28, 1941) Description An account of the resource <div class="flex flex-col text-sm pb-25"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)"> <div class="[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn"> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&]:mt-1"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling"> Paul Robeson’s appearance in Englewood on January 28, 1942, was at once a cultural triumph and a revealing episode in the racial and political tensions of wartime Bergen County. Robeson was engaged by the Englewood Youth Federation to perform at the Plaza Theatre as a benefit for the Federation’s Camp Fund for needy children. Advance notices emphasized both his stature and the civic purpose of the event. He was described—using the racial language typical of the period—as the “distinguished Negro baritone,” a Rutgers graduate and former All-American football player, internationally known for his renditions of “Ol’ Man River” and other spiritual and concert works. The Federation framed the recital as a non-profit civic and cultural undertaking. It would mark Robeson’s first appearance in northern New Jersey. The Plaza Theatre, which seated approximately 1,500, was selected as the only auditorium large enough to accommodate the expected crowd. Tickets were distributed across Bergen and Passaic counties—Tenafly, Ridgewood, Paterson, Hackensack—reflecting a coordinated regional effort to ensure a strong turnout. The timing of the concert added another layer of significance. It was organized in the weeks following the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II. Initially, organizers feared wartime anxiety might dampen attendance. Instead, reports suggested the opposite. After a brief slump following the declaration of war, ticket sales increased steadily, and by late January the event was approaching a sellout. As publicity grew, so did controversy. Headlines warned of an Englewood dispute over the appearance of the “alleged Communist singer.” Some residents in the hill section reportedly attempted to rally opposition on the grounds that Robeson was a Communist. The charge reflected the growing national scrutiny of his political views, even before the height of the Red Scare. The Social Service Federation of Englewood publicly clarified that it had no role in sponsoring the concert. The recital, it stated, was organized solely by the Englewood Youth Federation, a local body that met at Memorial House but had no affiliation with national political organizations. This clarification suggests that some Community Chest contributors feared their funds might be indirectly supporting a politically controversial figure. The Youth Federation stood firm. It characterized the recital as a local cultural benefit for children and expressed confidence that music lovers would attend regardless of political noise. In effect, the organization positioned the concert as an assertion of civic independence rather than ideological alignment. The racial dimension of the controversy was unmistakable. Newspaper accounts repeatedly foregrounded Robeson’s identity as a “Negro baritone,” reflecting both his prominence and the social realities of the era. In 1942, a Black artist commanding a near-capacity, interracial audience in a Bergen County theater was itself a notable development. Political objections to his appearance existed within a broader social landscape in which race and ideology were closely intertwined. On the evening of January 28, Robeson sang before more than 1,200 people—nearly filling the Plaza Theatre. The review described the house as packed. Attendees came from across the county, including established musical circles and ordinary residents who, the reviewer suggested, may have sacrificed to purchase tickets. Approximately one-quarter of the audience was reported to be Black, indicating a rare instance of substantial interracial cultural gathering in a northern suburban setting. Robeson was assisted by thereminist Clara Rockmore, whose presence added a modern and somewhat experimental element to the program. Lawrence Brown accompanied Robeson at the piano. The program itself was ambitious and wide-ranging, including spirituals such as “Ezekiel Saw de Wheel” and “Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho,” English and Russian folk songs, Hebrew chant, selections from Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, and theatrical pieces including works by Gershwin. The review was emphatically positive. Robeson’s voice was described as even, rich, and mellow, with exceptional clarity of diction and emotional depth. The critic suggested that even familiar material seemed renewed in his interpretation. His spirituals were singled out as especially powerful, and he responded generously to encores, eventually singing “Old Man River” after strong audience demand. Notably, Robeson declined to perform “De Glory Road” when requested, explaining that his own people did not favor the piece. The moment underscored his careful curation of repertoire and his refusal to conform to simplistic expectations about what a Black performer should present. His program blended spirituals, classical music, folk traditions, and protest-inflected works, reinforcing his image as both artist and intellectual. In the end, the concert succeeded artistically and financially. The house was nearly full, the benefit achieved its purpose, and the press review affirmed Robeson’s stature. Yet the surrounding controversy revealed underlying tensions within Englewood—tensions about race, politics, patriotism, and public expression at the outset of World War II. Robeson’s 1942 appearance at the Plaza Theatre thus stands as more than a musical event. It offers a window into the social dynamics of a northern New Jersey community navigating the intersection of Black excellence, political suspicion, and civic identity in a moment of national crisis. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start"></div> </div> </div> </div> “Paul Robeson to Sing in Englewood.” The News (Paterson, NJ), November 6, 1941. “Robeson Appearance Here Is Considered—Seek Approval.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), October 3, 1941. “Paul Robeson to Sing for Englewood Benefit.” The Herald-News (Passaic, NJ), December 18, 1941. “Robeson Will Sing in Englewood January 28.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), December 18, 1941. “Robeson to Sing at Englewood Jan. 28.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 9, 1942. “Paul Robeson to Sing in Englewood January 28 for Children’s Camp Fund.” The Sunday News (Ridgewood, NJ), January 18, 1942. “Robeson Thrills Packed House in First Bergen Appearance.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 29, 1942. “Music News and Views: Robeson Will Sing in Englewood January 28.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 1942. “Hill Residents Reported to Be Sniping at Robeson.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 1942. “Paul Robeson to Sing in Englewood.” The New York Age (New York, NY), November 29, 1941. <div class="resource-meta media-object-section"> <div class="description full"> <div class="resource-meta media-object-section"> <div class="description full"> <div class="resource-meta media-object-section"> <div class="description full"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Library of Congress, Office of War Information. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available wikipedia Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June, 1942 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Public Domain Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource St. John's Lutheran Church Description An account of the resource St. John’s Lutheran Church was one of Englewood’s prominent Protestant congregations in the early twentieth century and reflected the strong German Lutheran presence in Bergen County at the time. Founded in the late nineteenth or very early twentieth century, the church had become well established by the 1920s, serving both the spiritual and cultural needs of its members. A 1926 newspaper account announcing the church’s twenty-fifth anniversary celebration shows how firmly rooted the congregation had become in the community. The anniversary services were held over several days and featured guest clergy from cities including Philadelphia, Jersey City, Port Jervis, Rockville Centre, and Ridgefield Park. The program included sermons delivered in both English and German—an important detail that illustrates the congregation’s bilingual character and the transitional identity of many Lutheran churches of German origin during that era. Music played a central role in congregational life. The anniversary program included choral selections, solos, and works by composers such as Handel. The Ladies’ Aid Society and Young People’s Society were also active, organizing refreshments and social gatherings. Their involvement highlights the church’s broader function beyond worship: it operated as a social and community center where fellowship, youth development, and mutual support were cultivated. The celebration coincided with a session of the New Jersey Synod of Lutheran churches meeting in Englewood, suggesting that St. John’s held a respected position within the regional Lutheran network. By its twenty-fifth year, the church was described as “successful in Englewood,” indicating steady growth and sustained membership. Overall, St. John’s Lutheran Church represented a key strand of Englewood’s religious and ethnic history. It embodied the shift from immigrant-language congregations toward more fully Americanized institutions, while maintaining liturgical traditions, strong musical programming, and active lay organizations that anchored it in the civic life of the city.