Washington, Harold Archives & Collections. Political Education Project Records

Abstract

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.

Historical Note

The Political Education Project (PEP) was established in 1984 by Mayor Harold Washington and several members of his 1983 mayoral campaign staff. The organization’s purpose was to accept contributions, make expenditures in support of political candidates and support public policy and education. The organization supported Harold Washington’s political career and his interests in electoral politics beyond the Office of the Mayor. PEP helped organize political candidates for statewide elections in 1984 as well as delegates to the Democratic National Convention of the same year.

The 1986 special aldermanic elections had the potential to change the balance of power in the Chicago City Council. PEP used its political connections to support progressive candidates such as Luis Gutiérrez and Jesus Garcia through field operations, voter registration and election day poll monitoring. Once elected, these aldermen helped break the stalemate between Washington and his opponents in the City Council and legislation gained ground.

In preparation for the 1987 mayoral election, PEP formed the Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Harold Washington. This organization carried out fundraising for the campaign, planned campaign events, conducted research, developed campaign platforms and coordinated volunteers and voter registration efforts. PEP staff members, such as Joseph Gardner and Timothy C. Evans, also played leading roles in Chicago politics. The organization disbanded upon Harold Washington’s death.

Biographical Note

Harold Washington was the first African American mayor of Chicago, elected in 1983.

Harold Washington was born on April 15, 1922, at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. His parents, Roy Lee and Bertha Jones Washington, divorced when he was young, and he lived with his father in Chicago and attended boarding school in Milwaukee. Washington entered Chicago’s DuSable High School in 1939, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps for six months, enlisted in the military from 1943 to 1946, and returned to DuSable High School to graduate in 1946. After earning a bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago and a law degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Washington enjoyed a career as a practicing attorney before he turned to politics.

Washington’s political career encompassed roles at the municipal, state and national levels of government. He served as Illinois State Representative for the 26th District from 1965 to 1976. He then became Illinois State Senator for the 26th District from 1976 to 1980. Washington ran for mayor of Chicago in 1977 but lost. In 1980, he became a U.S. Congressman for the 1st District and served in that post until 1983. Washington again ran for mayor in 1983, winning the Democratic primary election in February of that year and the general election in April. He was inaugurated on April 29, 1983, and was re-elected in 1987. Harold Washington died at 1:36 p.m. on November 25, 1987, of a cardiac arrest, just a few months into his second term as mayor. He is buried in Chicago’s Oak Woods Cemetery.

Scope and Contents

The Political Education Project (PEP) was formed in 1984 by members of Harold Washington’s mayoral campaign staff. The organization’s purpose was to accept political contributions, support political candidates and campaigns, and support and educate voters on public policy positions. The organization supported Harold Washington’s political career and his interests in electoral politics beyond the Office of the Mayor. The 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. The documents include budgets, campaign materials, correspondence, directories, financial statements, guides, legal filings, meeting minutes, memos, news clippings, planning materials, position papers, promotional materials, reports, research materials, schedules and statements.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into five series:

• Series 1: 1983 Mayoral Election and Transition, 1977-1983
• Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987
• Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987
• Series 4: Harold Washington Political Office Files, 1966-1988
• Series 5: Other Chicago and Civic Action Files, 1964-1975

Separations

The collection included several files with photographs created by the Mayor’s Press Office. These were added to the Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Photographs collection series. A handful of items, mostly programs, flyers and newsletters, that were outside of PEP operations were added to the following collections: ten to the Chicago City-Wide Collection, one to the Englewood Community Collection, one to the Woodlawn Community Collection and three to the Chicago Civic Action Collection.

Related Materials

• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Illinois State Representative Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Illinois State Senate Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, U.S. Congressional Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Mayoral Campaign Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Asian American Advisory Committee Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Central Files Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Chief of Staff Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, City Council Proceedings Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Development Sub-Cabinet Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Finance and Administration Sub-Cabinet Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Intergovernmental Affairs Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Office Manager/Supervisor of Clerical Staff Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Photographs
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Public Safety/Regulatory Sub-Cabinet Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Real Estate Committee Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Schedules and Evaluations Records
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Videotapes
• Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Commemorative Year Archives
• Eugene Sawyer Mayoral Records
• Justice Graphics, Inc. Records
• Steve Askin Papers

Subject Headings

• African Americans -- Chicago (Ill.)
• Asian Americans -- Illinois -- Chicago
• Axelrod, David, 1955-
• Berry, Edwin C., 1910-1987
• Byrne, Jane, 1933-2014
• Chicago (Ill.). Mayor
• Chicago (Ill.). City Council -- Council Wars
• Committee to Elect Harold Washington Mayor of Chicago
• Democratic National Convention (1984: San Francisco, Ca.)
• Ethnic groups -- Illinois -- Chicago
• Educational change -- Illinois -- Chicago
• Evans, Timothy C.
• García, Jesús, 1956 April 12-
• Gardner, Joseph
• Grimshaw, Jacky
• Gutiérrez, Luis V., 1953-
• Harris, Nancy Simon
• Hispanic Americans--Illinois--Chicago
• Jackson, Jesse, 1941-
• Mondale, Walter F., 1928-
• Orr, David Duvall, 1944-
• Political campaigns -- Illinois -- Chicago
• Rush, Bobby L., 1946-
• Students for a Democratic Society (1969-1974)
• Vrdolyak, Edward
• Washington, Harold, 1922-1987

Collection Inventory

Series 1: 1983 Mayoral Election and Transition, 1977-1983

Biographical/Historical

Congressman Harold Washington announced his candidacy for Chicago mayor on November 10, 1982. He won the Democratic nomination in the primary election on February 22, 1983, defeating incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne and Cook County State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley with 36.28% of the vote. In one of Chicago’s most racially divided elections Washington drew support not only from a broad and powerful African American base, but also from a sizable number of liberal white and Hispanic voters. Harold Washington became the first African American mayor of Chicago on April 12, 1983, when he defeated Bernard E. Upton (Republican) and Ed Warren (Socialist Workers) with 51.72% of the vote.

Scope and Contents

Series 1 contains some mayoral campaign materials, transition planning materials and research files that were transferred with the Political Education Project (PEP) records, likely because of staff continuity between organizations and actions. Some of the materials may have also served as reference files for the new PEP organization in formulating policy awareness and planning the political activities for or supported by Harold Washington. The documents in Series 1 predate the creation of PEP and may duplicate some items in the Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Mayoral Campaign Records.

Studies and publications on topics that might have been used as research for either campaign positions or transition policy planning have been gathered in Subseries C: Subject Files.

Arrangement

Series 1 is arranged into three subseries:

• Subseries A: Mayoral Campaign, 1982-1983
• Subseries B: Transition Planning, 1982-1983
• Subseries C: Subject Files, 1977-1983

Subseries A: Mayoral Campaign, 1982-1983

Scope and Contents

Subseries A contains a range of administrative, committee, fundraising, media and planning materials related to Chicago’s 1983 mayoral primary and general elections on February 22, 1983, and April 12, 1983. The documentation includes brochures, correspondence, financial statements, memos, notes, reports, schedules and statements. The term “planning materials” is used when a range of correspondence, memos and other relevant documents were used to develop an action. 

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by type of activity or topic.

 Series 1: 1983 Mayoral Election and Transition, 1977-1983

Subseries B: Transition Planning, 1982-1983

Scope and Contents

Subseries B includes correspondence, meeting materials, memos, news clippings and reports on Chicago’s agencies and departments to facilitate Harold Washington’s transition into the Mayor’s Office.

Transition planning began in February before the Oversight Committee was officially formed. Edwin C. “Bill” Berry chaired the Oversight Committee that coordinated the transitional committees. Some references refer interchangeably to the Transition Committee and the Transition Oversight Committee. The archivist was not always able to make a clear distinction between them and retained them as named. The Transition Team created a Blue Ribbon Task Force of experts for each subject matter. These Task Forces reported to the Transition Teams and helped them shape future policy for city departments, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Neighborhoods. The term “planning materials” is used when a range of correspondence, memos and other relevant documents were used to develop actions, positions or reports.

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by material type or topic.

 Series 1: 1983 Mayoral Election and Transition, 1977-1983

Subseries C: Subject Files, 1977-1983

Scope and Contents

Subseries C contains research, reports and other documentation that was found with the campaign and transition files. These materials were likely used to inform the various campaign committees and transition task forces to develop campaign talking points and policy recommendations and reports.

Arrangement

Subseries C is arranged by organization name, topic or title.

 Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987

Biographical/Historical

Harold Washington established the Political Education Project (PEP) in 1984, in advance of the Democratic National Convention. Staffed by many of the members of Washington’s 1983 mayoral campaign, the organization supported Washington’s interests in electoral politics beyond the Office of the Mayor. PEP helped organize political candidates for statewide elections in 1984 as well as delegates to the Democratic National Convention of the same year. Joseph Gardner was PEP’s first Executive Director. Timothy C. Evans took over as Director of PEP in 1985. Other notable PEP leaders included Mercedes Mallette and Helen Shiller.

In 1986, the special aldermanic elections changed the balance of power in the Chicago City Council. PEP used its political connections to support progressive candidates such as Luis V. Gutiérrez and Jesús García through field operations, voter registration and election day poll monitoring. Once elected, these aldermen helped break the stalemate between Washington and his opponents in the City Council. Due to PEP’s efforts, Washington’s City Council legislation gained ground.

Scope and Contents

Series 2 contains the administrative and subject files that document the organization founding of the Political Education Project (PEP) and its political initiative from 1984 to 1986, including the Democratic National Convention and Chicago 1986 Special Aldermanic elections.

Arrangement

Series 2 is arranged into 5 subseries:

• Subseries A: Administrative, 1980-1987, undated
• Subseries B: Democratic National Convention (DNC), 1983-1984
• Subseries C: 1984 Elections, 1984
• Subseries D: 1986 Elections, 1984-1986
• Subseries E: Subject Files, 1982-1986

Subseries A: Administrative Files, 1980-1987, undated

Scope and Contents

Subseries A includes a range of operational and planning materials for Political Education Project (PEP) initiatives and office organization. The documents include articles of incorporation, campaign disclosures, correspondence, directories, financial statements, meeting minutes, phone message logs and reports.

Processing Information

Telephone logs, unless specific to one campaign or activity, have been gathered here since the communications spanned many campaigns and other issues. Similarly, voter registration research files that impacted multiple campaign efforts have been retained with the Administrative Files. When Executive Director Joseph Gardner’s or Timothy C. Evans’s files were clearly labeled, they were retained together. However, the work product of both directors will be found throughout the collection and researchers should consult the materials widely.

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by item description or title.

 Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987

Subseries B: Democratic National Convention (DNC), 1983-1984

Biographical/Historical

The Political Education Project (PEP) worked to further Washington’s legislative agenda by supporting Democratic candidates in the 1984 national, state and local elections. PEP recruited Illinois delegates to the Democratic National Convention to pledge their support for Washington as a Presidential Candidate on the “Favorite Son Slate.” Though Washington made no national level run for the presidency, he leveraged his 1984 convention delegates for political gain. Delegates who supported Washington’s “Favorite Son Slate” also supported his participation in the Democratic Platform Committee.

The Democratic National Convention was held in San Francisco, California, July 16-July 19, 1984. Prior to the Democratic National Convention, the Platform Committee of the Democratic National Committee held a conference in Washington DC, June 11-12, 1984. The convenings included statements, also referred to as testimonies, made by a variety of organizations, elected officials and individuals that were intended to inform the Democratic platform that would be presented at the July convention. Mayor Harold Washington submitted a set of proposals on housing, infrastructure and job creation called the “Washington Economic Proposal for American Cites” to the Platform Committee.

Scope and Contents

Subseries B contains materials related to the Democratic National Convention and the Democratic Platform Committee. The documentation includes correspondence, convention delegates’ Statements of Preference for Harold Washington as the Democratic nominee, Democratic Platform drafting documents and statements made to the Democratic Platform Committee by various organizations and individuals, including Harold Washington, on a wide range of issues.

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by organization name and topic.

 Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987

Subseries C: 1984 Elections, 1984

Scope and Contents

Subseries C includes the Political Education Project (PEP) contributions to the 1984 local, state and national elections.

Arrangement

Subseries C is arranged by topic or material type.

 Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987

Subseries D: 1986 Elections, 1984-1986

Biographical/Historical

Upon the completion of the 1980 census, politicians in Illinois were required to redraw various electoral boundaries. Harold Washington and his allies alleged that Chicago’s ward boundaries established after the 1980 Federal Population Census unfairly favored white candidates in Mars Ketchum, et al. vs. Jane Bryne. The disenfranchisement of minority voters produced a City Council in 1983 that was divided primarily along racial lines and the white majority frequently blocked passage of Washington’s initiatives. This opposition was what came to be known as “Council Wars.” The litigation continued for four years through the district court, the Seventh Circuit, the Supreme Court, and back in the district court. The legal remedy ordered by the court included redrawing the ward remap and special elections in 1986. As a result, three Washington-supported candidates, Marlene C. Carter, Jesús “Chuy” García and Luis Gutiérrez, were elected to City Council and changed the balance of power.

Other legal challenges involved the Nonpartisan Election Ballot Referendum that was initiated by political allies of Cook County State’s Attorney, and mayoral candidate, Richard M. Daley. The referendum proposed changes to the mayoral election rules that would drop the two-party system in a primary and require a runoff if the leading candidate did not receive more than 50 percent of the vote. Washington’s opponents did not think he could win in a one-on-one contest, and they contended the referendum proposal was racially motivated. In a procedural move, Washington’s supporters put three other advisory referendums, the maximum number allowed, on the November 1986 ballot to keep the Nonpartisan Election Ballot Referendum off.

Scope and Contents

Subseries D contains the Political Education Project (PEP) files that document various ballot legal challenges along with ward redistricting and campaigns to support candidates favorable to Harold Washington’s legislative goals in the newly drawn political districts. PEP identified and monitored specific (not inclusive) Ward and Precincts for the November 4, 1986, General Elections and the March 18, 1986, Primary and Special Election. The materials include Board of Election Commissioners rules, campaign materials, copies of the legal filings, endorsements, reports and vote tally sheets for selected Chicago Wards.

Subseries D also includes a selection of community newspapers that covered the struggles of the Washington administration with City Council, also known as “Council Wars.” The topics included Washington’s 10-point challenge to City Council, ward remapping, bond programs, Fair Share Budget and the Special Election for Alderman in seven wards.

Arrangement

Subseries D is arranged alphabetically by topic or title.

 Series 2: Political Education Project (PEP), 1980-1987

Subseries E: Subject Files, 1982-1986

Scope and Contents

Subseries E includes research, reports and other documentation that was found with the Political Education Project (PEP) files and supported research development on campaign actions and political positions.

Arrangement

Subseries E is arranged alphabetically by topic, organization name or title.

 Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Biographical/Historical

In preparation for the 1987 mayoral election, PEP formed the Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Washington. This organization carried out fundraising for the campaign, coordinated campaign events and volunteers, conducted research for platform development, organized voter registration drives and promoted Washington’s public image. Washington defeated Sheila Jones and former mayor Jane Byrne in the Democratic primary held on February 24, 1987. In the general election, held April 7, 1987, Washington prevailed against Ed Vrdolyak, who represented the Illinois Solidarity Party, and Don Haider, the Republican candidate.

The organization disbanded upon Harold Washington’s death.

Scope and Contents

Series 3 contains administrative, event, fundraising, media, research and other planning materials that relate to Harold Washington’s re-election campaign.

Arrangement

Series 3 is arranged into 7 subseries:

• Subseries A: Administrative Files, 1983-1987
• Subseries B: Campaign Events, 1987
• Subseries C: Fundraising Files, 1986-1987
• Subseries D: Fundraising Events, 1986-1987
• Subseries E: Media and Publicity, 1986-1987
• Subseries F: Research Files, 1963-1987
• Subseries G: Voter Registration and Election Turnout, 1986-1987

Subseries A: Administrative Files, 1983-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries A contains the Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Washington’s campaign planning materials for general operations, election day coordination, field organization, financial management, platform development and volunteer coordination. The Research Committee created and utilized the subject and clipping files in Subseries F to gather and summarize information for the Platform and Issues Committee.

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by type of material or title.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries B: Campaign Events, 1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries B includes campaign activities such as debates, debate watch parties, community forums, press conferences and rallies designed to promote Harold Washington’s positions and foster his connections with voters. The files also contain materials that document event planning such as briefing notes and schedules.

Harold Washington’s campaign included a multitude of events. Schedules needed frequent updating to reflect changes in the fast-paced campaign. The schedules are described with the date ranges of the planned events, but changes in these overlapping date ranges can be tracked using the date the schedules were printed. The schedules and briefing notes include a mixture of campaign and mayoral events. Because of the staffing overlaps between Harold Washington’s administration and the Political Education Project, it is likely that some of the events and other planning materials were created for official Mayoral activities and used as reference for political planning.

Several political and influential surrogates contributed to Mayor Washington’s re-election campaign including Coretta Scott King. Surrogate efforts spanned campaign and fundraising events and many of the documents combine both types of events. For researcher ease, the surrogate files have been retained together and filed with the fundraising materials in Subseries C and D.

Researchers should also consult Subseries F for debate research and briefing preparations.

Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically by title or topic.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries C: Fundraising Files, 1986-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries C includes planning materials such as correspondence, contribution lists, event planning, forms, reports and schedules related to fundraising efforts. The bulk of the files described as fundraising events were created for this purpose. However, some fundraising initiatives arose in relationship to campaign-specific events, such as the debate watch parties and researchers should also consult other campaign activities.

Several political and influential surrogates contributed to Mayor Washington’s re-election campaign including Coretta Scott King. Surrogate efforts spanned campaign and fundraising events and many of the documents combine both types of events. For researcher ease, the surrogate files have been retained together in Subseries C, but some will refer to rallies and other campaign events in Subseries B.

In response to charges by Thomas Hynes that some funders were circumnavigating annual donation limits, the Washington campaign reorganized its fundraising operation on March 24, 1987, and two fundraising committees shut down leaving only Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Washington as the main organization funding the campaign.

Arrangement

Subseries C is arranged alphabetically by title or topic.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries D: Fundraising Events, 1986-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries D includes plans for individual fundraising events. Some of the fundraising events were planned and held by independent parties.

Arrangement

Subseries D has been retained in its original chronological order. The small number of fundraising event folders that were filed separately have been interfiled here for researcher ease.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries E: Media and Publicity, 1986-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries E includes advertisements, campaign materials, endorsements, platform statements, press releases and other materials used to bring awareness to Harold Washington’s message. Some of the television spots were created by Axelrod & Associates. See Subseries A for Washington’s platform development by the Research Committee and Subseries F for the news clippings related to the campaign.

Arrangement

Subseries E is arranged alphabetically by title or topic.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries F: Research Files, 1963-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries F contains opposition research gathered by the campaign Research Committee that included Joanna Brown, Jacky Grimshaw, Jay Jackson, Achy Obeyas and Jan Rowland.

The research files are comprised of news clippings, press releases, statements and other reports. They focus on the actions and issue positions of Harold Washington and his political opponents or adversaries, notably Jane Bryne and Edward Vrdolyak. The generated research was used to formulate Washington’s positions on critical issues and to inform his debate, press responses and political platform. The archivist has noted when Washington’s responses are included with the research materials.

News clipping packets were prepared by day as well as by topic or candidate. Some articles will be duplicated across the different research areas. Weekly Community and Ethnic press clipping packets were compiled from local and specialty news sources to provide insight on voters of color and from Chicago neighborhoods not always served by the major news outlets.

Arrangement

Subseries F is arranged alphabetically by topic. The Community and Ethnic press clippings are arranged chronologically by their assigned categories.

Series 3: 1987 Mayoral Re-Election Campaign, 1963-1987

Subseries G: Voter Registration and Election Turnout, 1986-1987

Scope and Contents

Subseries G documents the Political Education Project’s (PEP) work to the analyze and coordinate voter registration and the election day turnout needed to secure Harold Washington’s re-election. Philip A. John served as the Coordinator of Voter Registration. The files include advertisements, campaign materials, news clippings, platform statements, press releases and other materials used to bring awareness to Harold Washington’s message.

Researchers should consult Subseries A for overall planning for primary and general election days.

Arrangement

Subseries G is arranged by title or topic.

Series 4: Harold Washington Political Office Files, 1966-1988

Scope and Contents

Series 4 contains various mayoral files that were transferred to the archives with the Political Education Project (PEP) files.

Arrangement

Series 4 is arranged 2 subseries:

• Subseries A: Mayor’s Office, 1966, 1983-1988
• Subseries B: Mayor’s Office, Routed Correspondence (case files), CLOSED, 1983-1985

Subseries A: Mayor’s Office Files (various), 1966, 1983-1988

Scope and Contents

Subseries A contains various mayoral files that were transferred to the archives with the Political Education Project (PEP) files. Campaign staff often worked in one of Harold Washington’s administrations before or after their involvement with campaign activities and some of their files followed. It is possible that some or parts of these files are duplicated in the Harold Washington mayoral records. Researchers are encouraged to consult the Harold Washington Archives & Collections (HWAC) for more comprehensive documentation of various administrative actions and planning. Obvious duplications of materials from the other HWAC records were discarded.

Arrangement

Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by agency, department name or by topic.

Series 4: Harold Washington Political Office Files, 1966-1988

Subseries B: Mayor’s Office, Routed Correspondence (Case files), CLOSED, 1983-1985

Scope and Contents 

Routed Correspondence files contain mail that became part of the Mayor’s Central Filing System created by Office Manager, Ella Richmond, in 1984. This includes material to and from the Mayor, chief of staff, agency liaisons and city departments, and general files. The majority of the correspondents wrote asking for help with personal matters and, as such, the letters are closed to respect individuals’ privacy rights. At the end of each year, each office division would route incoming correspondence with a copy of the response to the File Clerk. Files would be sorted, processed and classified by filing reference and held for records management purposes in a secondary filing system. These files were mistakenly transferred with the Political Education Project files but will be retained using the same access conditions as those in the Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Central Files Records.

 Arrangement

Subseries B is arranged alphabetically.

Series 5: Other Chicago and Civic Action Files, 1964-1975

Scope and Contents

Series 5 contains files that were transferred with the collection but have no known relationship with the Political Education Project (PEP) organization and planning. It is unclear why these materials were included. The files related to Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Southern Conference Educational Fund (SCEF) and Appalachian Provisional Organizing Committee (APOC) appear to have been gathered by Lucy Montgomery along with her correspondence to Frank Smith, leader of the “Strike City” protests in Washington, DC, and SDS district director.

Arrangement

Series 5 is arranged alphabetically by organization and type of material.