The evening of May 31 and the morning of June 1 marked an event of racial violence that culminated in the looting and burning the Greenwood community in North Tulsa. The 1921 Tulsa Race Riot was sparked by reports that a young African-American man assaulted a young white woman. The man was arrested, and as a white mob gathered to lynch him, a number of African Americans armed themselves and went to the courthouse to assist in the accused’s defense. This led to a riot among those present at the courthouse, ultimately achieving a line of battle at the Frisco tracks.

About midnight, things became quiet. The local National Guard was called out, and in the early morning moved into the Greenwood community, detaining the population and interning them at the Convention Hall, which is now the Brady Theater. At daybreak, two forces composed of National Guard and Special Deputies invaded the community, and were followed by people looting and burning buildings and homes, destroying block after block of property. The terrorized population of Greenwood was rounded up and locked up at the McNulty baseball park after being marched through the center of town as prisoners in a triumphal parade.

There are a number of things about this riot that are contested, such as the number of people killed, the existence of mass graves, how planes were used (spotting versus shooting, for example), and even what to call the event. What cannot be contested is that this was one of the most photographed race riots of the post-war era.

The Department of Special Collections and University Archives at The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library has in its collections a large assembly of images of the riot and the aftermath. A small number are presented here.

Detainees being marched along Second Street crossing Boston. Photographer Francis A. Schmidt. 1989.004.5.S4, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

Looting the Woods Building, Greenwood and Archer. Photographer unknown. 1989.004.5.52, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

The ruins of North Detroit Avenue, looking at Booker T. Washington High School, the ruins of the Greenwood district, and the remains of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Photographer Arthur Dudley. S1989.004.5.46, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

Detainees being housed in McNulty Park. Photographer Joseph Hause. 1989.004.5.23, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

Sightseers and rioters at First and Elgin. Photographer unknown. 1989.004.5.26, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

Detainees being offloaded from trucks and moved into McNulty Park. Photographer Joseph Hause. 1989.004.5.21, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

The ruins of the Gurley and Williams Buildings, west side of Greenwood. Photographer James Sidney. 1989.004.5.JS4, Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa.

Published in This Land, Vol. 5, Issue 10, May 15, 2014.