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Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Senatorial Records

 Collection
Identifier: spe-h00161

Scope and Contents

This collection reflects Harold Washington's legislative activities, service on committees, and responses to concerns of constituents while he served as Illinois State Senator. There are small amounts of material on his unsuccessful Chicago Mayoral Primary campaign of 1977, his successful Illinois State Senatorial campaign in 1978, and his successful United States Congressional campaign in 1980. The strengths of the collection include Washington’s legislative files and the activities of the Legislative Black Caucus. Records include correspondence, drafts of legislation, invitations, memoranda, promotional materials, reports, research files, and testimony. For photographs, please see the Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection.

Dates

  • 1969 - 1981
  • Majority of material found within 1976 - 1980

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions. Some files have been redacted or closed for privacy reasons.

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.

Biographical / Historical

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, Illinois. 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 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 PM 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.

Harold Washington (1922-1987) served as Illinois State Senator for the 26th Legislative District of Illinois from 1976 to 1980. During Harold Washington’s tenure as senator, he was an active participant on several committees. He served as vice-chairman of the Senate Judiciary II Committee, and chairman of the Legislative Reference Bureau and the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Corrections Committee. He was also a member of the Senate Rules Committee, the Joint House and State Committee on Long-Term State Debt, the Joint House and Senate Committee to Study the Public Air Code (HB 3449), and the Legislative Advisory Committee on Public Aid. Washington is recognized as a founding member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Senate Bills that Senator Washington sponsored include an appropriation to save Provident Hospital in Chicago, Currency Exchange Reforms, Small Business “Set Aside” Acts, Branch Banking Legislation, and acts establishing the Fair Employment Practices Commission and the Civil Rights Study Commission.

Extent

10.5 Linear Feet (in 21 boxes, plus 2 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

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.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into seven series:

  • Series 1: Legislative, 1972-1981
  • Series 2: Committee and Caucus, 1977-1980
  • Series 3: Constituent, 1976-1981
  • Series 4: Campaign, 1977-1980
  • Series 5: Press and Publicity, 1976-1980
  • Series 6: Biographical and Personal, 1969-1980
  • Series 7: Administrative, 1977-1981

Physical Location

Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least 24-hours prior to your research visit to coordinate access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The Chicago Public Library acquired the records after Harold Washington’s death.

Related Materials

  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Representative Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, U.S. Congressional Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Pre-Mayoral Photographs
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Mayoral Campaign Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Asian American Advisory Committee Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Community Services Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Development Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Finance and Administration Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Infrastrucure Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Legislative Liasion and Intergovernmental Affairs Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Office Manager/Supervisor of Clerical Staff Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Press Office Photographs
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Press Office Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Public Safety-Regulatory Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Real Estate Committee Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Videocassette Collection
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Chief of Staff Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Central Files Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Schedules and Evaluations Records
  • Steve Askin Papers
  • Harold Washington, Commemorative Year Archives
  • Harold Washington, Political Education Project Records

Title
Guide to the Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Senatorial Records
Status
Completed
Author
Originally processed by Special Collections staff in the early 1990s. Updated by Morag Walsh, 2021. Ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021.
Date
early 1990s
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center Repository

Contact:
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875