Black History Month: Pilgrim Baptist's Eldridge Gilbert

Chris Green, Rockford Register Star

How much do you know about Rockford's Black history? In celebration and recognition of Black History Month, the Rockford Register Star has partnered with the Rockford Public Library's Local History Room to bring our readers a local Black history fact of the day.

Visit rrstar.com or the Rockford Register Star newspaper each day throughout the month of February to read about the people, places and events that played significant roles in shaping the rich fabric of Rockford's Black history.

February 11, 2024

The Rev. Eldridge Gilbert
The Rev. Eldridge Gilbert

The Rev. Eldridge Gilbert, a nationally recognized civil rights activist, served as the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church from 1944 to 1990. He also participated in the March on Washington in 1963. Additionally, he played a leading role in integration efforts within the business and housing sectors throughout Rockford.

Want to learn more about the Rev. Eldridge Gilbert? Visit the Rockford Public Library's Local History Room at rockfordpubliclibrary.org/local-history or in person at the Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church St.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Black History Month: Pilgrim Baptist's Eldridge Gilbert