Friday, Aug. 14, 1908: George Richardson, a black man, was arrested after being accused of raping Mabel Hallam, a white woman who would later recant the accusation.

Soon a crowd of whites gathered at the Sangamon County Jail, demanding the release of Richardson and another black prisoner, Joe James, who had been accused of murdering a white man the previous month. The sheriff secretly moved the prisoners to Bloomington, with the help of Springfield restaurant owner Harry Loper. The mob reacted by burning Loper’s restaurant, beginning the riot. The state militia was called in to little effect as dozens of stores, offices and homes were destroyed and up to 1,200 spectators watched. Approximately 2,000 black residents attempted to take refuge in the State Arsenal, at Camp Lincoln, and surrounding towns.

Saturday, Aug. 15: Black barber Scott Burton was killed at about 2 a.m.by gunfire while protecting his home – his body was hung from a tree and shot again. Around 5 a.m., troops from around the state arrived in Springfield and were shot at by rioters. At 7 p.m., William Donnegan, an elderly black man married to a white woman, was dragged from his home and his throat was slashed. He died at St. John’s Hospital the next morning.

Sunday, Aug. 16: By dawn, thousands of troops were on patrol in Springfield, with 40 homes and 24 businesses destroyed and seven people dead.

For a detailed and profusely illustrated timeline of the riot, visit the “Springfield, Illinois, Race Riot 1908” exhibit at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum, 1440 Monument Ave., 217-391-6323, spiaahm.org

The NAACP State Convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel from Friday, Aug. 17, through Sunday, Aug. 19. For details visit springfieldnaacp.org/events/illinois-naacpstate-convention/.