On June 12, 1893, Paul Laurence Dunbar was in Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition, where he hoped to find employment and a broader audience for his writings. That week, he gave a reading of his poetry at the Tourgée Club, an organization for African American men.
Mr. Paul Dunbar of Dayton, O., read one of his own poems at the opening of the Tourgee Club last week.
"Windy City News." The Cleveland Gazette (Cleveland, Ohio). June 17, 1893. Page 2.
The Tourgée Club was named after Albion W. Tourgée, a white lawyer and civil rights pioneer who was well-respected in the Black community. He later argued against racial segregation in the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case. The club was established in his honor when Tourgée visited Chicago during the World's Fair to make a speech about voting rights.
There is more snap to the young colored man of Chicago than to his brother in New York. The great colored club of Chicago is the Tourgee, named in honor of the eminent writer, jurist and politician. The Tourgee club is entertaining on a royal scale the prominent colored men from different parts of the country who visit Chicago this summer.
"It Has Many Aristocrats." Nebraska State Journal (Lincoln,Nebraska). September 17, 1893. Page 10.
Last March a number of young colored men having in view the advancement of their race, met and perfected the organization of the club, naming it in honor of one of the best friends of their race, Judge Albion W. Tourgee, of New York. They have a beautiful clubhouse, where the banquet was given last night. The rooms were decorated with flowers and American flags.
"Honored Fred Douglass." The Daily Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois). November 3, 1893. Page 2.
There was a revival of billiards in the way of a tournament given last night by the Tourgee Club, which is composed exclusively of young colored men. The tournament was held at their club-house, No. 2926 Dearborn Street. The club, which has handsomely-furnished rooms, including parlor, library, writing, reading, smoking, dining rooms, and buffet, has been in existence ten months [and] has 100 members.
"Tournament at the Tourgee Club." The Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois). March 9, 1894. Page 11.