Robert T. Motts

Robert T. Motts was an African American saloon owner and gambling racket leader, who established and managed Chicago's Pekin Theatre, an epicenter of African-American theater. Motts was an organizer in the Republican Party. He also owned theaters in New York City. His father, Thomas Motts, was a coal dealer in Muscatine, Iowa and died during the Civil War. His mother moved the five children to Washington, Iowa. At the age of 18, Motts left for St. Louis and later Chicago, where he worked odd jobs and then as a coachman for four years.

Death Motts' health began to decline, but he continued to devote his time to managing the theatre. He arranged for his sister, Lucy Jackson, to have joint ownership of the business and eventually sold his last interest in the business before his death. Services were held at Quinn Chapel and Motts was interred in Washington, Iowa.