Government & Politics

Government & Politics

Abbott, Robert S. - John H. Sengstacke Family Papers

Dates: 1847-1997. Size: 179 linear feet. Accession #2007/06. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Robert S. Abbott founded the Chicago Defender in 1905; his nephew John H. Sengstacke took over the family’s newspapers upon Abbott’s death in 1940. The papers trace the Abbott-Sengstacke family history from the mid-19th century in Georgia through Abbott’s move to Chicago and creation of a journalistic empire, to the death of Sengstacke in 1997. The papers are arranged in three superseries: Robert Abbott, John Sengstacke and Myrtle Sengstacke. Extensive documentation of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the Chicago Defender, the Pittsburgh Courier, the Michigan Chronicle, Provident Hospital and the political history of Chicago is included. The papers feature correspondence, manuscripts, organizational and subject research files, biographical materials, programs, clippings and memorabilia. A large collection of photographs is being processed and will be available at a later date. [Finding aid]

Askin, Steve Papers

Dates: 1969-1984 (Bulk dates 1977-1983). Size: 0.75 linear feet in 2 boxes plus 1 oversize folder. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Steve Askin was Harold Washington’s Communications Director during his unsuccessful run for mayor in 1977. In addition to information about Washington’s positions on key issues, there is significant documentation of the immediate aftermath of the loss, including a report, written by Askin, assessing the situation and how to move forward. Of particular note are the files marked “Police Surveillance/Red Squad” which Harold Washington requested and obtained. [Finding aid]

Chicago Department of Urban Renewal Collection

Dates: 1891-1992 (Bulk dates, 1950-1980). Size: 41 Linear Feet in 127 boxes (including 3 audio cassettes, approximately 16,000 photographic negatives, 35 boxes of photographic images, and 3 boxes of video reels), plus 1 oversize folder. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Neighborhood History Research Collection. The records in this collection were created and collected by the Department of Urban Renewal, its predecessors and other Chicago city departments with duties related to planning and development. The majority of the collection is comprised of photographs, contact sheets, negatives and slides of Chicago neighborhoods considered and targeted for improvement, including images that show buildings and neighborhoods that were subsequently razed. There are also papers related to the administration of the Department's initiatives, publications related to planning and development, images of events related to various urban renewal and development projects and images of staff members of the Department of Urban Renewal, the Chicago Plan Commission and other related City entities. Photographs from this collection are available in the Library's Chicago Department of Urban Renewal Records: Photographic Negatives Digital Collection.  [Finding aid]

Chicago Department of Water Management

Dates: circa 1866-2011. Size: 118 linear feet in 70 boxes including 55 scrapbooks and one bound atlas. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Today, Chicago’s Department of Water Management delivers nearly 1 billion gallons of drinking water to residents of Chicago and 125 suburbs daily. The collection includes historic documentation of the Jardine Water Purification Plant (formerly Central District Filtration Plant), Eugene Sawyer Water Purification Plant (formerly South District Filtration Plant), the water cribs in Lake Michigan, and Chicago’s 12 pumping stations, including Chicago Water Tower (Chicago Avenue Pumping Station). Historic materials in this collection include articles, brochures, newsletters, pamphlets, photographs, press releases, reports, and scrapbooks. [Partially processed]

Chicago Public Library Archives. Early CPL

Dates: 1871-1908. Size: 18 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The Early CPL Papers series of the Chicago Public Library Archives document the foundation of Chicago Public Library immediately after the 1871 fire. The series includes detailed information regarding the legislative process which gave authority to the city to raise taxes to maintain a public library; extremely detailed information regarding the first collections; shipping information and costs of exporting donations from Great Britain to the United States; lists of who donated what; and general everyday library business. The series also has information about employment matters in the Library and the construction of the new Central Library. The collection includes the Papers of the Board of Directors, the Papers of the Secretary of the Board and the Papers of the Librarian for this time period. [Finding aid]

Chicago Public Library Archives. Harold Washington Library Center Construction Photographs

Dates: 1988-1991. Size: 1,411 photographs. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. This photographic collection documents the construction of the Harold Washington Library Center, the central library for the Chicago Public Library. Both interior and exterior shots were taken, and all aspects of the building’s construction are shown, including the erection of steel, the masonry work, the interior heating and air conditioning systems, and the installation of marble finishes and casework. [Finding aid]

Chicago Sewers Collection

Dates: 1855-2004. Size: 13.5 linear feet, includes 951 photographs, 121 glass plate slides. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Neighborhood History Research Collection. The Chicago Sewers Collection contains historical sketches, maps, photographs, plans and reports. The bulk of the materials are photographs that depict the construction and repair of Chicago’s sewers with views above and below ground. The sewer systems span neighborhood sites across the city and include several Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. A selection of photographs from this collection are available in the Library’s  Chicago’s Sewers Digital Collection. [Finding aid]

City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs

Date: 1920s-2008, bulk 1960-2002. Size: 108 linear feet in 217 boxes, plus 1 oversize folder. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The City of Chicago Graphics and Reproduction Center Photographs document many aspects of City government and functions for most of the twentieth century. The photographers of this department were hired out by a variety of City agencies and departments to photograph events, facilities, people and equipment. The images cover a vast range of Chicago scenes including construction, clean up and transit projects; festivals, inaugurations, performances and other events; social programs like senior citizen picnics and Low Income Housing Trust Fund projects; photo opportunities with various mayors; and countless views of iconic Chicago buildings, venues, parks, museums and the lakefront. A small series of published reports, brochures and newsletters also appears. [Finding aid]

Democratic National Convention Records

Dates: 1965, 1968. Size: 3 linear feet in 4 boxes, including 2 photographs. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago determined that Hubert Humphrey would be the Democratic candidate for president. Throughout the Convention, anti-war protestors demonstrated around Chicago and experienced police violence and arrests. The majority of this collection details the events and messages of the Convention itself through the officially produced material that was distributed to delegates and press. The protests surrounding the convention and the ensuing police crackdown are covered through a series of national alternative newspapers. [Finding aid]

Evans, Jesse Papers

Dates: 1994. Size: 2 linear feet. Accession #1994/09. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Jesse Evans is the former alderman for Chicago’s 21st ward. This small group of papers consists of serials and other materials Evans brought back from a 1994 trip to South Africa. [Partially processed]

Hayes, Charles A. Papers

Dates: 1944-1997. Size: 10 linear feet. Accession #2010/07. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Charles Hayes was a union leader in the United Packinghouse Workers of America and in two successor unions from the 1940s through the 1980s. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993. Most of his papers have been lost, but this small collection includes correspondence, speech texts, reports, clipping files, photographs and memorabilia. [Finding aid]

Holli, Melvin Papers

Dates: 1983-1987. Size: 2 linear feet. Accession #2010/11. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Melvin Holli was a history professor and author who wrote several books on Chicago politics, including The American Mayor. His papers include subject research files on Mayor Harold Washington’s administration, newspaper clippings and notes. [Unprocessed]

Jones, Dewey Roscoe Papers

Dates: 1910-2013. Size: 16 linear feet. Accession #2015/02. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Dewey Roscoe Jones was a Chicago-based journalist for the Chicago Defender. He rose to the role of Managing Editor while writing feature articles, book reviews, and columns. Jones left the Defender in 1932 to work as the Associate Advisor on Negro Affairs in the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. He returned to Chicago in 1938 to serve as the Assistant Director of Hull-House, Jane Addam’s progressive settlement just southwest of the city’s Loop. The collection contains newspaper articles, correspondence, manuscripts, photographs and memorabilia documenting the personal and professional lives of Dewey Roscoe Jones and his wife, Faith Jefferson Jones Killings. [Finding Aid]

Just the Beginning Foundation Archives

Dates: 1940-2008. Size: 78 linear feet. Accession #2000/03. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Just the Beginning Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to honor Judge James Benton Parsons, the first African American appointed to the U.S. District Court with life tenure. The foundation’s mission is to highlight the accomplishments of African Americans in the federal judiciary, and to provide education and outreach to youth on career opportunities in the legal profession. The archives include correspondence, administrative records, photographs, conference proceedings, biographical information on federal judges and audiovisual materials. An addition to the archives consists of the papers of Edward Toles, federal bankruptcy judge and former president of the National Bar Association. [Partially processed]

Justice Graphics, Inc. Collection

Dates: 1970s-1990. Size: 3 linear feet in 6 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Keep Strong Publishing began in 1975 in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. It was started by progressive community activists Walter “Slim” Coleman, Helen Shiller, and others, and soon changed its name to Justice Graphics, Inc. This collection consists of Justice Graphics Inc.’s files about Harold Washington and other related politicians. Of note is a series related to Washington's 1985 trip to Israel and Italy, accompanied by Shiller, acting as photographer. [Finding aid]

Logsdon, Joseph Papers

Dates: 1960-1961. Size: 1 linear foot. Accession #1961/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. The papers consist of his typed dissertation submitted to the University of Chicago for a Master of Arts in social sciences. The dissertation traces the Rev. Archibald J. Carey and his impact on politics in Chicago. [Finding aid]

Metcalfe, Ralph Papers

Dates: 1934-1975. Size: 1 linear foot. Accession #1993/05. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Ralph Metcalfe was an Olympic track athlete and was later elected a Chicago alderman and Congressman. The papers include early correspondence, awards, photographs, official documents and memorabilia. [Unprocessed]

Morrow, E. Frederic Papers

Dates: 1952-1996. Size: 13 linear feet. Accession #2000/11. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Best known as a member of President Eisenhower’s White House staff, E. Frederic Morrow worked for the Urban League, the NAACP and CBS radio before joining Eisenhower’s campaign in 1952. He served on the White House staff from 1955 through 1960 and wrote a memoir, Black Man in the White House. His papers include manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and memorabilia. [Finding Aid, opens a new window]

Palmer, Alice and Edward (“Buzz”) Papers

Dates: 1950-2005. Size: 5 linear feet. Accession #2006/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Alice Palmer, an educator and human rights activist, worked on Harold Washington’s campaigns and served as an Illinois state senator. She was active in Chicago’s civil rights movement of the 1960s and in international dialogues beginning in the 1980s. Her husband, “Buzz” Palmer, a former police officer, was one of the founders of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League and has been active in international human rights work. Their papers include correspondence, subject research files, programs, serials and memorabilia. [Partially processed]

Political Campaign Ephemera Collection

Dates: 1902-2023. Size: 18 linear feet in 29 boxes, includes 3 buttons, 11 oversize folders. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The Political Campaign Ephemera Collection contains assorted campaign literature and political materials primarily for Chicago, Cook County and Illinois Democratic and Republican Parties from 1902 on. The materials include bumper stickers, campaign pamphlets, flyers, mailers, newsletters, political party materials, posters, sample ballots, and voting instructions. [Finding Aid]

Rabb, Madeline Murphy Papers

Dates: 1980-1991. Size: 6 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Madeline Murphy Rabb served as Executive Director of the Chicago Office of Fine Arts from 1983 to 1990, where she helped strengthen and expand the city’s cultural arts programs. The Madeline Murphy Rabb Papers span from 1980-1991 and include administrative documents, speeches, material related to conferences and exhibits, publicity, research, and photographs. [Finding aid]

Ramsey, Jane Papers

Dates: 1982-1988. Size: 2.5 linear feet in 5 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Jane Ramsey served in Mayor Harold Washington's cabinet as Director of Community Relations (1986-1988) and served as Executive Director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Her papers represent her work in Washington's administration and his campaigns for Mayor, with an emphasis on Jewish voters. [Finding aid]

Reardon, Patrick T. Research Files

Dates: 1970s-1990s. Size: 15.5 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Patrick T. Reardon spent 32 years working as the urban affairs journalist at the Chicago Tribune where he specialized in writing about social issues and public policy. Since that time, he has gone on to author ten books and publish essays, histories and poems. The collection contains the Chicago and Illinois reports on employment, housing, land use, population, public aid, race and schools that informed his writings. [Partially Processed]

Republican National Convention Records

Dates: 1958-1960 (Bulk date, 1960). Size: 3 linear feet in 3 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The 1960 Republican National Convention, held in Chicago, determined that Richard M. Nixon would be the party’s presidential candidate. As the incumbent vice president, Nixon was always a leading contender, but he worked with New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller to adopt platform planks that would appeal to the left wing of the Republican Party. Opposing Nixon was Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater who represented the right wing of the Republican Party. Some of this internal party division can be seen in these records which document the events of the Convention. [Finding aid]

Rivkin, Amanda Photographs, Chicago Police Torture Survivors

Dates: 2015 August-2016 August. Size: 2 linear feet in 1 oversize folder. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Twelve 16” x 24” portraits by photographer Amanda Rivkin depict present-day survivors of systematic torture by the Chicago Police Department, which occurred from approximately 1972 to 1991 under the direction of former Commander Jon Burge. Burge was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in 2010. In 2015, the Chicago City Council passed a reparations ordinance that provided monetary compensation and other benefits to victims of Burge-era torture. Following the passage of the ordinance, Rivkin received a grant from the International Women’s Media Foundation to photograph and record the stories of the survivors. [Finding aid]

Rosenblum, Susan Papers

Dates: 1980-1991. Size: .25 linear feet in 1 box. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. This small collection consists of case studies, legal documents, reports, pamphlets and booklets connected to Susan B. Rosenblum's work in Chicago in the 1980s. Items in the collection relate to three distinct areas of focus: displacement in the Uptown neighborhood in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the 1984 closing of the Playskool toy factory in West Humboldt Park and the creation of the non-profit Chicago Consortium of Worker Education in 1989. [Finding aid]

Saffold, Howard Papers

Dates: 1968-1994. Size: 6 linear feet. Accession #2010/03. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. The papers consist primarily of newsclippings and photographs related to the history of the African American Police League in Chicago. [Unprocessed]

Sawyer, Eugene Mayoral Records

Dates: 1980-1989, Bulk 1987-1989. Size: 71 Linear Feet in 139 boxes, including 259 videotapes, 43 boxes of photographs. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Eugene Sawyer worked in Chicago's Water Department before being elected 6th Ward Alderman in 1971. Following Harold Washington's death in November 1987, Sawyer was elected by his fellow City Council members to serve as mayor. Sawyer lost the special election in 1989 to Richard J. Daley, and after that, he left public office to pursue private business. Events that are most substantively represented in this collection include the construction of International Terminal 5 at O’Hare Airport, the creation of the General Services Department, the restructuring of the Department of Streets and Sanitation and a revamping of various City workflows and software systems related to procurement and telecommunications. The dismissal of mayoral aide Steve Cokely for anti-Semitic comments and the Design/Build competition for the new Central Library, the Harold Washington Library Center, are also covered. The photograph series documents the 1988 Democratic National Convention in Atlanta especially well, along with the general daily events attended by Mayor Sawyer. Other important topics covered in a less comprehensive way include education reform; HIV/AIDS; the anti-gang task force, the Chicago Intervention Network (CIN); and representation of underrepresented groups in government and business contracts. [Finding aid]

Smith, Mary Ella Papers

Dates: 1981-1987. Size: 6 linear feet. Accession #2003/06. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Mary Ella Smith, fiancée to Mayor Harold Washington, took over as head of the Harold Washington Foundation after his untimely death in 1987. Her papers include programs, flyers, newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia. [Partially processed]

Southern Africa Support Group Archives

Dates: 1963-1980. Size: 5 linear feet in 9 boxes. Accession #1985/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. This Chicago-based organization aided the cause of African liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The archive includes programs, flyers and a wide array of serials. [Finding aid]

Todd, Thomas N. Papers

Dates: 1954-2015. Size: 55 linear feet. Accession #2017/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Thomas N. Todd was a groundbreaking attorney for civil rights. He served as the president of the Chicago Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1971 and president of Operation PUSH from 1983-1984. Attorney Todd established the nation’s first local U.S. attorney’s civil rights office. He taught law at Northwestern University as the school’s first full-time Black law professor. His papers include correspondence, case files, speeches, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, photographs, audiovisual materials, and memorabilia. [Unprocessed] 

Wallace, Joan Papers

Dates: 1901-1994. Size: 42.5 linear feet. Accession #2005/06. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Joan Wallace, daughter of painter William Edouard Scott and widow of anti-poverty federal official Maurice Dawkins, was an assistant secretary of agriculture during the Carter administration. Her papers contain correspondence, speeches, scrapbooks, photographs and memorabilia. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Illinois State Representative Records

Dates: 1957-1976. Size: 3.25 linear feet in 7 boxes and 2 artifacts. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Reports, minutes, press releases, speeches, newsletters and news clippings from Harold Washington’s tenure as State Representative for the 26th District of Illinois. Major topics covered in this collection include the creation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Law and the Medical Malpractice Act. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Illinois State Senatorial Records

Dates: 1969-1981, bulk 1976-1980. Size:10.5 linear feet in 21 boxes, plus 2 oversize folders. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Reports, minutes, correspondence, newsletters and news clippings from Harold Washington’s tenure as State Senator from 1976 to 1980. The records reflect Washington’s involvement with various committees, particularly the Fair Employment Practices Commission and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, of which he was a founding member. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Central Files Records

Dates: 1949-1987, bulk dates 1983-1987. Size: 63 linear feet in 55 boxes. Chicago Public Library Center, Special Collections. The Central Files Records consist of correspondence received by the Mayor’s Office. Incoming mail was sorted by Harold Washington’s Executive Office using the Central Filing System. Included in the collection is a small amout of papers from Harold Washington and the files of Dolores Woods, Harold Washington’s Executive Secretary. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Chief of Staff Records

Dates: 1974-1988 (bulk dates 1983-1987). Size: 51.5 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Records in this collection document the roles of Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff in the management of the city’s workforce, the execution of policies set by Mayor Washington and the administrative direction of the mayoral liaisons. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. Each of these sub-cabinets reported to the Chief of Staff and as such, the subjects found in the records are extensive. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Community Services Sub-Cabinet Records

Dates: 1975-1988, bulk dates 1983-1988. Size: 62 linear feet in 45 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. The Community Services Sub-Cabinet focused on the “people-oriented” departments of city government, including Human Services, Human Relations, Departments of Health and Aging and Disabilities and the Chicago Public Library. Records include reports, correspondence and minutes. Major topics addressed in the collection include the spread of AIDS, the construction of a new central library and education reforms. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Development Sub-Cabinet Records

Dates: 1980-1987. Size: 24 linear feet in 16 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. The Development Sub-Cabinet worked with several city departments including Departments of Economic Development, Planning, Housing, Cultural Affairs, Chicago Housing Authority and the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training. Documents include reports, memoranda, correspondence and minutes. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Finance and Administration Sub-Cabinet Records

Dates: 1980-1988, bulk dates 1983-1987. Size: 27 linear feet in 18 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. Major topics in the collection include the renovation of the Chicago and Regal Theaters, the Chinatown Basin Project and the North Loop Development Project. Documents include reports, memoranda, correspondence and minutes. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet Records

Dates: 1981-1989, bulk dates 1983-1987. Size: 18 linear feet in 40 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. Departments reporting to the Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet include Aviation, Public Works, Sewers, Streets and Sanitation and Water. Major topics in the collection include an expansion of O’Hare International Airport and the construction of a direct rail link to O’Hare International Airport by the Chicago Transit Authority. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Legislative Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs Records

Dates: 1977-1988, bulk dates 1984-1987. Size: 11.5 linear feet in 23 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Records created by the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) and the Legislative Liaison. IGA was established to coordinate legislative and lobbying efforts for and with various city departments, boards and commissions and with state and federal governments. Major topics in the collection include transportation issues and Chicago’s anti-apartheid and divestment from South Africa efforts. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Press Office Photographs

Dates: 1983-1987. Size: 41.5 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Harold Washington was the first African American mayor of Chicago, elected in 1983. The Press Office was part of the Office of the Mayor, and was responsible for the mayor’s scheduling and for ensuring he was prepared for each event by producing briefing notes with detailed background information. The photographs, contact sheets and negatives in this collection were mostly taken by Press Office photographers, Michelle V. Agins, Antonio B. Dickey and Peter J. Schulz, between 1983 and 1987. The images document many of Harold Washington’s engagements and provide a glimpse into his often busy, daily schedule. The types of events he attended varied from day to day, but many were out in the neighborhoods, while others took place inside City Hall. Selected items from this collection are available in the Library's Remembering Harold Washington Digital Collection. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Press Office Records

Dates: 1979-1991, bulk dates 1983-1987. Size: 74.5 linear feet in 100 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The Press Office was responsible for the mayor’s scheduling and for ensuring he was prepared for each event by producing briefing notes with detailed background information about the organization or venue involved. They also drafted press releases and speeches for the mayor and gathered news clippings on all topics. Of particular note are a collection of news clippings gathered after Mayor Washington’s sudden death. Selected items from the collection are available online in the Harold Washington: Selected Speeches Digital Collection. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Public Safety/Regulatory Sub-Cabinet Records

Dates: 1982-1988. Size: 12 linear feet in 24 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. When Harold Washington took office in 1983 he formed five sub-cabinets that were responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of policies that cut across departmental boundaries. Departments reporting to this Sub-Committee include Police, Fire, Consumer Services, Cable Communications and Animal Care and Control. Records from the Police Department are particularly strong in the area of gangs and the Mayor’s Task Force on Youth Crime Prevention. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. Schedules and Evaluations Records

Dates: 1986-1987. Size: 9 linear feet in 19 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Files from Mayor Harold Washington’s Scheduling Department detailing events that the mayor was invited to. Records include reports of site-visits, seating plans, floor plans of the venue, the racial mix of the audience and follow-up reports about how the Mayor was received. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Political Education Project Records

1963-1988; bulk dates: 1983-1987. Size: 42 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Harold Washington Archives & Collections. Harold Washington (1922-1987) served as Mayor of the city of Chicago from 1983 until his death in 1987. The Political Education Project (PEP) was formed in 1984 by members of Washington’s mayoral campaign staff. The organization served as Washington’s political arm, organizing delegates to the 1984 Democratic National Convention, Washington’s 1987 mayoral re-election campaign and the campaigns of his political allies. Harold Washington’s Political Education Project Records contain files related to Washington’s career and campaign efforts, including his mayoral campaign in 1983, participation in the 1984 Democratic National Convention, the 1986 Chicago special aldermanic elections and Washington’s mayoral re-election campaign in 1987. [Finding Aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. U.S. Congressional Records

Dates: 1970-1983, bulk 1980-1983. Size: 57 linear feet in 43 boxes. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. Correspondence, speeches, press releases and reports from Washington’s tenure as Congressman for the First District and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Of note are his legislative files and those from his committee and caucus work. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Mayoral Records. City Council Proceedings Records

Dates: 1983-1987. Size: 15 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. A complete set of the Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Chicago from Washington’s inauguration in 1983 until Eugene Sawyer gave his acceptance speech as Acting Mayor following Washington’s death in 1987. [Processed]

Washington, Harold Archives and Collections. Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection

Dates: circa 1938-1983, bulk dates 1969-1983. Size: 5 linear feet in 5 boxes, includes 476 photographs. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. This collection begins with photographs of Harold Washington as a student, in the Army and as a member of the Illinois legislature, but the bulk of the collection dates from his time in Washington, D.C., as U.S. Congressman, and from his 1983 campaign for Mayor of Chicago. [Finding aid]

Washington, Harold Commemorative Year Archives

Dates: 2007-2008. Size: .5 linear feet. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, Harold Washington Archives & Collections. The Harold Washington Commemorative Year sought to promote remembrance, encourage discussion and champion the legacy of Harold Washington. The Harold Washington Commemorative Year sponsored a series of free public programs and events. [Unprocessed]

West Chesterfield Community Association Archives

Dates: 2000-2019. Size: 4 linear feet in 9 boxes. Accession #2020/01. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. The West Chesterfield Community Association was founded in 1956 to promote community awareness and development. It lies between the Chatham and Roseland communities on Chicago's south side. These papers include monthly board and community meeting notes, community-based projects, newsletters and financial records. [Finding aid]

Whack, Rita Coburn Collection

Dates: 1996-2003. Size: 2 linear feet. Accession #2002/06. Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. Rita Coburn Whack, a novelist, television and radio producer, and on-air radio contributor, won an Emmy for writing in her documentary film, Curators of Culture: Chicago’s South Side Community Art Center, in 2005. Her papers include 41 oral history interviews and other audiovisual materials from her public radio work and from documentaries she created for public television. [Finding Aid]

Works Progress Administration. Federal Art Project. Illinois Art Project

Dates: circa 1938-1943. Size: .65 linear feet, includes 166 photographs. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections. The collection consists of 166 photographs of artworks, furniture and design items that were produced for the Illinois Art Project which was part of the Federal Art Project (FAP) under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) between 1936 and 1943. [Finding aid]

A-Z Collections Index