John Pollard and his family

JOHN POLLARD

JOHN POLLARD

 In 1886, John Pollard and his family moved to the small village of Rogers Park in order to escape racial tension in Missouri.  In doing so, they "enjoyed the distinction of being the only [r]ace group in the entire Rogers Park community,” according to a 1937 Chicago Defender article.

As the only family of color among a sea of white neighbors, they faced significant hurdles. But the Pollards — a family of eight, with African-American, Native-American and French ancestry — distinguished themselves as leaders in sports and business who changed the course of history.  They lived at 1928 W. Lunt Avenue. 

He was born in Virginia in 1846 into a family of free black farmers while the slave trade thrived in the South. Eight years later, fearing that he and his sister would be kidnapped and sold, his mother sent them to Kansas in search of better educational opportunities.

In 1862, John was among the first group of black men to join the Union Army and fight in the Civil War.

JOHN AND AMANDA POLLARD

JOHN AND AMANDA POLLARD

He was determined to attend Oberlin College in Ohio and become a lawyer. However, his quest to obtain a law degree ended when he contracted smallpox. After he recovered, he learned the barber trade from a white man and moved to the town of Mexico, Missouri to apply his trade. It was there that he met his future wife, Catherine Amanda Hughes (1856-1937).  She was described as "an extraordinary strong-willed woman ... ahead of her time."  She was not like most women who only stayed at home, took care of children, and performed domestic chores. She defied the concept of conventional roles society had assigned to her seeking, fulfillment outside of the home, and eventually become a successful seamstress. Not only did she command at work, she managed her priorities at home as well. She kept the family together through her tough love and high expectations. [picture: John and Amanda Pollard]

According to family members, Amanda never answered the door without carrying a handgun in her apron pocket. Not only did this speak to her bravery and protective behavior, but also, sadly, to the racial discrimination and prejudice of the time. Looking through family documents it is evident that Amanda played a significant role in the family’s finances. Many tax documents and checks bear her name, which demonstrates her unconventional role as a woman during the 19th Century.

The couple had three children before fleeing the state for the Village of Rogers Park in 1886 [before it was incorporated into Chicago], where they later grew their family to eight.  The Chicago Defender of Sunday 9October 1937, says on page 2:”Highly respected, the family enjoyed the distinction of being the only Race group in the entire Rogers Park community.” John set up his barber shop at 7017 East Ravenswood Avenue. Which was then in Evanston Township.  And she ran a successful seamstress business that included clients like Marshall Field stores.

The Pollards, an education-oriented family, found some reprieve from racial tensions when they left Missouri, but still encountered problems in their new neighborhood.  Despite the family's challenges, the Pollards' achievements and presence in Rogers Park and in Chicago ultimately had a major impact on American sports and culture — though, to many, the Pollard family name has gone unsung.  The Pollard children embarked upon impressive athletic careers, including Olympic and Hall of Fame-level achievements, yet they each faced discrimination and barriers at many steps along the way.

Artissmisia Pollard, the eldest of the children, became Illinois' first black registered nurse, and Naomi, the third child, was one of the first black women to graduate from Northwestern University, according to the historical society.   Being the oldest and having success, Artemesia put pressure on her siblings to also do well.

LUTHER POLLARD

LUTHER POLLARD

Second born, Luther Pollard [pictured in 1819] tried to become a professional baseball player after a successful high school athletic career, but was not allowed to play as a person of color. He later started the Ebony Film Corporation, estimated to be worth $500,000 at the time — or about $25 million today, according to reports. He eventually won an Emmy award for his work in film.

Naomi “Willie” Naomi, the third child of the eight, was one of the first black women to graduate from Northwestern University. According to family members, she was denied election to Phi Beta Kappa because of her color. Reflecting the high-value of education of her family, she became a school teacher, and then a professor at Wilberforce University in Ohio.

Leslie Pollard, who played at North Division High School [aka Lane Tech on Western Avenue]. He later attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH where he had a superb football career. He helped break racial barriers in college football. He also played a major role in his little brother Fritz’s successful profession football career. "He was well known in Chicago, probably better known among both races than any other athlete that ever wore a gridiron uniform on the fields of Chicago representing a high school," an obituary for Pollard reads. "His name will long live for his deeds were many."

Ruth Pollard was a star sprinter at Lake View High School before dying at an early age.

Hughes Pollard, was an outstanding football player, but decided a career as a musician better suited him. This flamboyant gentleman joined the highly popular Chicago jazz group called the Melody Four as a drummer. He performed all over Europe and Australia with the group. Then Hugh joined the French army during WWI. Unfortunately, he died of complications due to a mustard gas attack.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS “FRITZ” POLLARD

FREDERICK DOUGLASS “FRITZ” POLLARD

Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was the most known of the Pollard children.  After playing at Lane Tech High School,  Fritz played football briefly for Northwestern, Harvard, and Dartmouth. In 1915, he received a Rockefeller scholarship to attend Brown University (Providence, R.I.) At Brown, Fritz was one of two blacks enrolled in the school.  He played the first African American head coach in the National Football League. Pollard along with Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920. Football pioneer Walter Camp ranked Pollard as "one of the greatest runners these eyes have ever seen."  Later he became the first black man to play in the Rose Bowl.  In 2005, "Fritz" Pollard became the first black head coach to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“FRITZ” POLLARD JR.

“FRITZ” POLLARD JR.

Frederick’s son, "Fritz" Pollard Jr., went on to become a track and field star at Senn High School before competing in and earning a bronze medal in the 1936 Olympics.

About this family - "They have fought through obstacles to achieve accomplishments that are amazing even by today’s standards," the Rogers Park historical society wrote. "Rogers Park’s Pollard family exemplified excellence in every sense of the word ... Unfortunately today, these great people are hardly recognized and have all but been forgotten in time."  For all their achievements, the Pollards never reached the level of fame that other influential families in the era enjoyed.  Yet their ability to become pioneers in multiple arenas, challenging racial norms, helped pave the way for other athletes of color worldwide.

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