Black History Month: J. Chester Allen — circa 1930s to 1970s

South Bend Tribune
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Throughout the month of February, The Tribune is publishing daily facts about South Bend's Black history. Follow the series at www.southbendtribune.com.

There are a lot of “firsts” behind his name: First African American person to represent South Bend in state government, first elected to serve on the Common Council, first appointed to the school board and first president of the bar association. A trained lawyer and husband to Elizabeth Fletcher, he and his wife operated the Allen & Allen Law firm out of downtown South Bend’s Lafayette Building. The two allied themselves with many local justice issues, including serving as attorneys for the Better Homes of South Bend neighborhood group.

Irving Allen, son of South Bend husband-wife civil rights attorneys J. Chester and Elizabeth Allen, speaks Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at the unveiling of a state historical marker dedicated to his parents at the Lafayette Building, 115 S. Lafayette Blvd.
Irving Allen, son of South Bend husband-wife civil rights attorneys J. Chester and Elizabeth Allen, speaks Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at the unveiling of a state historical marker dedicated to his parents at the Lafayette Building, 115 S. Lafayette Blvd.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Black history facts