Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Mayoral Records. Asian American Advisory Committee Records
Scope and Contents
The Asian American Advisory Committee records contain correspondence and minutes of meetings held by the Asian American Advisory Committee as well as reports used by the Chicago Works Together Committee. Ross Harano, the committee’s first chairperson wrote a history of the organization in 1995. The committee continues into Eugene Sawyer’s mayoral administration following Mayor Washington’s death in 1987.
Dates
- Creation: 1982 - 1995
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1984 - 1988
Creator
- Harano, Ross (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
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. Some files marked with an asterisk have been redacted or separated for privacy reasons. Please see the archivist on duty for access.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.
Historical
The Asian American Advisory Committee was established by Executive Order 84-2 by Harold Washington to advise the Mayor and city departments on programs, policy and legislation relevant to Chicago’s growing Asian American population. In addition to advising the Mayor, the 15 members of the Committee also served as liaisons with Asian American organizations across the city. Ross Harano was the first Chairperson of the Committee.
Biographical
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, IL. 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.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (in 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Asian American Advisory Committee records contain correspondence and minutes of meetings held by the Asian American Advisory Committee as well as reports used by the Chicago Works Together Committee. Ross Harano, the committee’s first chairperson wrote a history of the organization in 1995.
Arrangement
Where possible the original organization has been maintained. The records are arranged into 2 series: Series 1: Asian American Advisory Committee, 1983-1995 and Series 2: Chicago Works Together Committee, 1982-1987
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Ross Harano in 1995.
- Title
- Guide to the Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Mayoral Records. Asian American Advisory Committee Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Alison Hinterliter, circa 1995. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2021
- Date
- 1995
- 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
Harold Washington Library Center, 9th Floor
Chicago Public Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605 United States
(312) 747-4875
specoll@chipublib.org