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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Lincoln Colored Home (LCH) of Springfield, 
3the first Black orphanage in the State of Illinois and the 
4second Black orphanage in the United States, was founded by 
5former probation office and community servant Eva Carroll 
6Monroe in 1898; and
 
 
7    WHEREAS, The LCH, which operated until 1933, was 
8originally established in response to racial discrimination 
9towards Black children who were denied access to shelter and 
10other resources by local orphanages, and as time passed, it 
11extended its services to also providing shelter for widows; 
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Prior to opening the LCH, Eva Carroll Monroe 
14worked tirelessly on behalf of orphaned Black children and 
15made many sacrifices, including taking children into her own 
16home and providing for them without the aid of government 
17assistance, and as a Black woman, she continued to heroically 
18protect and serve Black children during the harsh times of the 
19Jim Crow era; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Eva Carroll Monroe was a dedicated child advocate 
21and provider, a fearless protector, and a national trailblazer 
 
 
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1who selfishly dedicated her life to the protection, welfare, 
2education, and service of Black children and her community, 
3and her courageous efforts in Illinois were instrumental in 
4raising standards of child welfare and protection nationwide; 
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, The structure that once housed Eva Carroll 
7Monroe's LCH, which was placed on the National Register of 
8Historic Places in 1988 and recently purchased by Route 
9History Museum, remains the only brick-and-mortar building of 
10the first two Black orphanages to still exist in the United 
11States today; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL 
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare August 4, 
142025 and August 4, 2026 as Eva Carroll Monroe Day in the State 
15of Illinois to celebrate and honor her achievements and 
16legacy; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to Dr. Gina Lathan, president of Route History 
19Museum, as a symbol of our respect and esteem.