The Greek Independence Day Parade took place in May of 1979 on Michigan Avenue. The crowds filled both sides of the street with Greek schools who marched and Evzones who stood at attention in front of the reviewing stand of priests and dignitaries. Most notably in the reviewing stand are Bishop Iakovos in Roll 1_17A. Also seen in Roll 1, 8A & 9A are Fr. Byron Stylianos Papanikolaou with my mother, Georgia Alexander. Standing in front of the reviewing stand are Fr. Nicholas Nikokavouras, Fr. John G. Kutulas and other priests and dignitaries.
In addition to having photos on all three floors at the National Hellenic Museum, my photos of Greek life in Chicago and from my backpacking trip to Greece in 1977 can be seen at the Greek Consulate in Chicago. I am indebted to Emmanuel Koubarakis, the Consul General of Greece in Chicago, Georgia Tasiopoulou, the Consul of Greece in Chicago and the GREEK-AMERICAN RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (GARC) for their generosity in funding the project. The past is present in these photos where the National Hellenic Museum visitors have been able to identify many of the people that they recognize in a notebook in the "Gather Together: Street Photography by Diane Alexander White." Now that is history!
As life-long Chicagoan of Greek descent the camera has given me a unique perspective behind the lens to capture what it means to identify with Hellenic culture and history. The past is present in these photos where National Hellenic Museum visitors have been able to identify many of the people that they recognize in a notebook in the "Gather Together: Street Photography by Diane Alexander White." Now that is history!
