Topics in Chronicling America - New York City Race Riot, August 1900

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• August 13, 1900, 2 am. In New York City, Robert J. Thorpe, a white plain-clothes policeman, is stabbed by Arthur Harris, a black man, during a fight.
• August 14, 1900. Thorpe dies.
• August 15, 1900. Large crowds gather and rioting begins with reports of police brutality.
• August 16, 1900. Harris is arrested in Washington, DC; rioting continues; more blacks are injured.
• August 17, 1900. Rioting ends.
• August 17-Dec. 1900. Accusations of police brutality continue. Tammany Hall is accused of corruption related to the riot.
• Dec. 8, 1900. Official report of the Committee of Rules and Discipline of the Police Board is released; no police are found at fault.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Race Riot, New York, West Side, Robert J. Thorpe, Arthur Harris, Police, Tammany.
• To narrow results, search between August 13, 1900 and December 9, 1900.

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "Policeman’s Death a Murder," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 14, 1900, p. 14, image 14, col. 2.
• "West Side Race Riot," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 16, 1900, p. 1, image 1, col. 6.
• "Harris Arrested Here," The Evening Times (Washington, DC), August 16, 1900, p. 1, image 1, col. 5-6.
• "Race Riot Rages in New York City," The Times (Richmond, VA), August 16, 1900, p. 1 image 1, col. 7.
• "Almost a Riot at Thorpe’s Funeral," The Evening World (New York, NY), August 16, 1900, Evening Edition, 10 P.M. Extra, p. 1, image 1, col. 5-6.
• "Mobs Still Fight Negroes in New York," San Francisco Call (San Francisco, CA), August 17, 1900, p. 2, image 2, col. 5-6.
• "Quieter on West Side," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 17, 1900, p. 3, image 3, col. 1-3.
• "Aftermath of the Riot," The St. Paul Globe (St. Paul, Minn.), August 17, 1900, p. 1, image 1, col. 3-4.
• "Police Brutality during Race Riots," The Evening World (New York, NY), August 18, 1900, Evening Edition, p. 3, image 5, col. 3-4.
• "He’s on the Police Force Now (cartoon)," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 19, 1900, p. 9, image 9, col. 3-4.
• "Dr. Brooks Accuses Police," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), August 27, 1900, p. 5, image 5, col. 2.
• "John E. Bruce, Tammany and the Negro," The Colored American (Washington, D.C.), September 08, 1900, p. 2, image 2, col. 1-2.
• "Rising Against Police," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), October 4, 1900, p. 4, image 5, col. 3-4.
• "Moss Attacks the Police," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), November 03, 1900, p. 2, Image 2, col. 2.
• "Police Force 'Not Guilty'," The Evening World (New York, NY), December 08, 1900, Evening Edition, p. 3, image 3, col. 1.