Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan Peace Week (September 1 - 7, 2024)City of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE:
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Proclamation
Copyrighted
September 3, 2024
Proclamation(s) # 01.
Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan Peace Week (September 1 - 7, 2024)
On behalf of the Nathaniel Morgan Memorial Committee.
Type
Supporting Documentation
THE Cl'I'Y OF
DUB
E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
PRO C
AMA
ION
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque has committed to uncovering the history of all Dubuquers through
the Black Heritage Survey, in an effort to tell a more complete story of Dubuque; and
WHEREAS, Nathaniel and Charlotte Morgan were among the pioneers of Dubuque and contributed
to its growth by working hard, purchasing the first platted lot (Lot 1), owning a home,
supporting the construction of Dubuque's first church, and persevering in the face of
racism as African Americans in a community that practiced slavery; and
WHEREAS, the lynching of Nathaniel Morgan and the subsequent pardoning of the lynchers
shattered the potential for interracial unity and peace by fueling white supremacy; and
WHEREAS, members of the Nathaniel Morgan Memorial Committee (NMMC) believe that
confronting our past injustice leads to learning, teaching, and building an equitable and
diverse community; and
WHEREAS, Dubuquers increasingly make a concerted effort in the face of ignorance, indifference,
and racism to build an equitable and diverse community that honors the faith,
aspirations, and perseverance of our earliest Black residents; and
WHEREAS, the NMMC and other Dubuque residents maintain that in life Nathaniel and Charlotte
Morgan represented the promise of a unified and peaceful interracial community; and
WHEREAS, the NMMC will celebrate this rekindled promise of unity and peace in a public memorial
service on September 6th at 6 pm at the Dubuque Museum of Art.
NOW THEREFORE, I, BRAD M. CAVANAGH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS OF DUBUQUE, DO HEREBY
PROCLAIM THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AS
"NATHANIEL AND CHARLOTTE MORGAN PEACE WEEK"
IN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the City of Dubuque to be
affixed this 3rd day of September 2024.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
2024: Submitted by Brian Hallstoos BHallstoos@dbq.edu.
2023: Submitted by Brian Hallstoos BHallstoos@dbq.edu. Accepted by: Ernestine Moss, co -Chair
of the Nathaniel Morgan Memorial Committee (NMMC), Chris Happ-Olson, NMMC member, Brian
Hallstoos, co-chair of the NMMC