The Greek Independence Day Parade took place in May of 1976 on State Street in Chicago. While a student of photography at the University of Illinois, Chicago, instructor Robert Steigler encouraged us to look behind the scenes for photos that make up an event. Included are many notables that include Archbishop Iakovos of America who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma who is featured in Roll 1_09, 15 & 17. Another prominent Greek-American is Pierre DeMets who is featured in Roll 1_08 & 09 and can also been seen in the National Hellenic Museum's archives. Cook County States Attorney Bernard Carey is wearing a, "Honorary Guest" sash in Roll1_06. In Roll1_06 & 25 wearing dark glasses is the Rev. Byron Papanikolaou of Sts. Constantine and Helen Church. The parade began on Wacker Drive and continued down State Street with the architecture playing the staring roll. Who are the people in these photos? Where are they now? As life-long Chicagoan of Greek descent the camera gives me a unique perspective behind the lens to capture what it means to identify with Hellenic culture and history.
