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American politician (1866–1937) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adelbert H. Roberts (August 20, 1866 – January 26, 1937) was an American politician who in 1924 became the first African American to serve in the Illinois Senate.
Adelbert H. Roberts | |
|---|---|
Roberts in 1925 as State Senator | |
| Member of the Illinois Senate | |
| In office 1924–1934 | |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1918–1920 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 20, 1866 Decatur, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | January 26, 1937 (aged 70) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Lula Wiley (m. 1895) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Roberts was born August 20, 1866, in Decatur, Michigan.[1] He graduated from high school at 17 and became a teacher. He then chose to take Ph.D. coursework at University of Michigan before attending Northwestern University School of Law. In 1895, he married Lula Wiley with whom he would have four children.[2]
In 1918, Roberts was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as a Republican. After the Chicago race riot of 1919, Governor Frank Orren Lowden's appointed Roberts to the Chicago Commission on Race Relations created in response to the incident.[3] He was appointed to the Illinois Senate in 1924 to fill a vacancy and elected to the Senate in 1926 and 1930. During his tenure, he was a resident of the Douglas community area.[1]
Roberts died January 26, 1937, in Chicago. He was survived by Lula and two of his sons.[4]
In 1984, Senator Margaret Smith and Representative Howard B. Brookins Sr. successfully campaigned to have a statue of Roberts installed in the Capitol rotunda.[3]
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