Shorefront Journal
Uncovering stories is a part of Shorefront’s DNA

Shorefront Journal

In 1999, Shorefront Journal, in its original printed form, was released to meet the need of sharing these significant stories to the general public. Published quarterly, this informal journal gave voice to the many historical moments throughout the Northern suburbs of Chicago.

The journal also gave exposure to more than 60 contributing writers — students, professors, historians alike — and became a venue for writers to share their stories and skills.

Shorefront welcomes the work of novice and professional writers and will make every effort to assure timely consideration of submissions. CLICK HERE to submit.

Shorefront Journal is the official online publication of Shorefront. Occasional postings explore local Black history, work within Shorefront and welcomes contributing articles from the general public. The original journal began in 1999 as a printed quarterly. In 2012, the journal transitioned online with an annual printed version. Several issues of the original journal can be found at issuu.com/shorefront.

For submissions: Send articles and supporting images for consideration to shorefront@me.com

Re-posting: Please cite “shorefrontlegacy.org” when reposting any Shorefront media and publications originating from Shorefront Journal

Publications: Visit lulu.com/spotlight/shorefrontpress for all of Shorefront’s active publications through Shorefront Press.

Shorefront Press is the Shorefront Legacy Centers publishing entity, producing relevant titles using in part or in whole, the Shorefront archives that stimulates discussion, furthers research, adds to the archives and engages communities. Publications are guided by the Shorefront core mission values: Collect, Preserve, Educate. To learn more about Shorefront's publications, click here.

Big Momma and ‘dem” Made Their Way to Cook and Clean . . .

—By Doria Johnson America is known as a country of suburbs, and the evolution of them during the 20th century is usually thought of in terms of elite, white enclaves. Some were industrial suburbs, which attracted factory and unskilled laborers. Some were, like Evanston, known as ‘domestic service suburbs’, which means Black people, and a...

Henry Butler and The American Dream

—By Carol Lems-Dworkin Mary Butler died in the room in which I sleep every night. And it is here that Henry Butler, according to the account of his grand niece, Christine Dodson, asked everyone to leave before closing the bedroom door to be alone with his wife as she left this world. The Butlers still...

Now. . .”Everybody Knows” Patti Drew. . .in “The Butler”

—By Dino Robinson Pretty little thing let me light your candle ‘cause baby I’m sure hard to handle now. . . Patricia E. Drew belted out these lyrics for the song, “Hard to Handle,” in 1968 when she was 20 years old. . .with an attitude. Then, it just about summed up her lifestyle. Today...

Our first Full Year!

It has been exactly one year since we made the transition from a print format to the online format of the Shorefront Journal — the first post was on August 6, 2012. From what we have observed, we feel that this has been a successful transition and has attracted new readership. Shorefront has over 370...

Thomas Madison Doram: A Veterinarian on the North Shore

— By Dino Robinson Nearing the turn of the century, a 1900 era America was less than 40 years after the emancipation of slaves, reconstruction was enabling opportunities. T.M. Doram, away from his hometown, he traveled to Chicago to study. Doram graduated and made history becoming the first degreed “negro” Veterinarian for his home state...

Carolyn Murray: A Mother’s Journey —Not Just Another West-Side Story

—by Janet Alexander Davis You know the old saying, that you don’t expect to bury your children? Well that statement has become a truth for so many women, and in recent years, it has hit close to home in Evanston, Illinois. As a country, we continue to experience an epidemic of violence, of all types...