Editing Robbins, Illinois (section)

==History==
Robbins was incorporated on December 14, 1917<ref>{{cite journal |title= ROBBINS, ILL SAYS:-"Give Us Housing And Transportation And We'll Work Out Our Own Destiny"|journal=The Pittsburgh Courier|volume=XXIV | issue =42 |date=October 15, 1938|pages=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108935020/the-saga-of-chicagos-only-negro-twon/\via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Negro Colony in East Makes Good - Thos. J. Kellar, Founder Highly Honored   |newspaper=The Denver Star|date=December 11, 1917 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92640581/the-denver-star/ |accessdate=}}</ref> and named for Eugene S. Robbins, a real estate developer who laid out the village's early subdivisions.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=Illinois Negros Have Model Municipality - Contains All Modern Conveniences And Is Free From Idleness And Loafing  |newspaper=[[The Dallas Express]]|date=December 6, 1919 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92641745/the-dallas-express/ |page=1}}</ref>  The village's founder and [[List of mayors of Robbins, Illinois|first mayor]] was [[Thomas J. Kellar]], who noted in an early interview "Our people in Robbins are mostly people who got tired of the white fights and the crowded city. They come out here to raise chickens, make gardens, and be a little more free".<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= Chicago Boasts All Negro Town - Robbins, ILL has Negro Mayor and Board of Trustees - Town's Population is 2500 with 11 Churches  |newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Courier]]|date=September 22, 1938 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92641091/the-pittsburgh-courier/  |page=3}}</ref> Robbins was the only municipality in the north that was entirely governed by African-Americans.<ref>{{Cite news|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title=The Saga of Chicago's Only Negro Town   |newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Courier]]|date=October 15, 1938 |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92642633/the-pittsburgh-courier/ |quote=...according to state historians, acquired the unique distinction of being the only municipality of its kind in the so-called far north, being entirely governed by coloured officials.}}</ref> Kellar, who was a clerk for the Cook County Board of Assessors, was tasked with investigating the procedures of incorporation. Thomas J. Kellar School in Robbins was named in his honor and first opened for the 1954 school year.<ref>{{cite journal |title= 1800 Students for District 143 1/2 District Schools Sept. 1|journal=The Blue Island Sun-Standard|date=August 26, 1954|pages=2}}</ref>
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After incorporation the community became a popular recreation spot for black Chicagoans, who crowded its picnic grounds and nightclubs on summer weekends.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weise|first=Andrew, Ann Durkin Keating and Janice L. Reiff |title=The Encyclopedia of Chicago|year=2004|publisher=The University of Chicago Illinois  |location=Chicago|isbn=0226310159|pages=713}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/9dc3ff40-8df4-0132-fd57-58d385a7b928/book#page/29/mode/2up|title = - NYPL Digital Collections}}</ref>