Unjust Deeds: The History of Racial Covenants in Dane County with Dane County Historical Society: In-Person Event Signup

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Historical Presentation

For most of the 20th century, racial covenants were an insidious tool used nationwide to segregate whites from Blacks and other minorities in America's burgeoning suburbs and residential neighborhoods. Racial covenants were clauses inserted into property deeds to prevent non-Whites and non-Christians from buying or occupying land. Although no longer valid or enforceable, they can still be found in the land deeds of almost every American community, including Dane County.

Racial covenants were made illegal with the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. Nevertheless, their impacts are pervasive and still with us today. This program, presented by local historian Rick Bernstein, will explore the history of racial covenants in Dane County and nationwide. Throughout the month of October, you can also learn about this through the traveling exhibit which you can view at the Library.

More about the Presenter: Rick Bernstein, a graduate of Cornell University's Historic Preservation Planning program, worked for nearly 30 years for the Wisconsin Historical Society's Division of Historic Preservation and Local History until he retired in 2019. Since then, Rick has worked part-time as the Dane County Historical Society's Executive Director. DCHS was established in 1961 to promote Dane County's history and to manage an archival facility at the Lussier Family Heritage Center in Lake Farm Park.

This program is made possible thanks to support from Beyond the Page, National Endowment for the Humanities, Madison Community Foundation, the Evjue Foundation, Dane Arts, and Dane County Department of Planning & Development. 

Current Action

There will also be an opportunity to take action: Does your house have a discriminatory covenant on your deed? If so, come by file state form “Discharge and Release of Discriminatory Restriction Affecting Real Property.” Dane County property assistants and notaries will be here to help and validate your documents, and will take the documents to the Register of Deed for you. Document recording fees are waived thanks to a grant from the Wisconsin Realtors Association Foundation.

To look up your property and see if this applies to you and for more information, visit Prejudice in Places.

This is a project of the County Executive, Board of Supervisors, Planning & Development, and Office of Equity & Inclusion. This project is supported by WI Act 210 and Dane County Resolution 2024-305.

Registration

Registration is appreciated but not required. Click the "learn more and signup" button to register.