Remembering Harold Washington

About

Mayor Harold Washington, the first African American mayor of Chicago, transformed the city during his years in office (1983-1987).

This collection showcases Washington’s work with ethnic and constituency groups, famous people, groundbreaking and development projects and politics.

Chicago Public Library also holds an extensive Harold Washington Reseach Collection.

Photographs in the Remembering Harold Washington exhibit are housed in the Special Collections and Preservation Division at Harold Washington Library Center.

Questions or concerns about rights and access to this digital collection? See our Copyright and Takedown Policy.

Acknowledgment of Harmful Materials

Chicago Public Library collects images, documents and other archival materials from different communities and time periods to preserve and make available the cultural and historical record. As historical objects, some of these materials contain harmful or disturbing content. CPL presents these artifacts as an unfiltered social record and does not endorse the views expressed therein.

Related CPL Collections

• Chicago Public Library holds extensive physical collections about Harold Washington, including his mayoral, congressional and state legislative years. Examples of these are:
  • Illinois State Representative Records
  • Mayoral Campaign Records
  • Mayoral Records, Press Office Records
  • Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection
• Municipal Reference Collection: Includes local government publications, city election results, maps and municipal ordinances.
• Brenetta Howell Barrett Papers: Barrett served in the mayoral administrations of Harold Washington and Eugene Sawyer. She was a political activist for housing, environmental and civil liberties issues.