Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Mayoral Records. Community Services Sub-Cabinet Series
Scope and Contents
The records in this collection are primarily from the offices of Kari Moe, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, and her three assistants: Charlotte Chun, Toya Dorham, Luz Martinez and the departments that reported to them. Charlotte Chun coordinated projects with the Department on Aging and Disability, Health Department and Health Systems Agency. Toya Dorham worked with the Chicago Public Library, Mayor’s Office of Inquiry and Information, Municipal Reference Library and the Women’s Affairs Commission. Luz Martinez liaised with the Commission on Human Relations and the Department of Human Services.
The records in the collection reflect the operations, programs and goals of these departments. Formats include reports, minutes, memos, budget and other financial records, personnel issues, monthly reports and correspondence. A very small number of photographs are listed here but for the majority of photographs, please see the Press Office Series.
Dates
- Creation: 1975 - 1988
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1983 - 1988
Creator
- Washington, Harold, 1922-1987 (Person)
- Moe, Kari J. (Person)
- Martínez, Luz (Person)
- Dorham, Toya (Person)
- Chun, Charlotte (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Historical Note
The Community Services Sub-Cabinet was one of five sub-cabinets Mayor Washington formed. Like the other sub-cabinets, Community Services coordinated policies and projects that cut across city departments. It focused on projects with the “people-oriented” departments: Aging and Disability, Chicago Public Library, Health, Health Systems Agency, Human Relations, Human Services, Mayor’s Office of Inquiry and Information, Municipal Reference Library and Women’s Affairs.
The other sub-cabinets in Mayor Washington’s administration were Development, Finance and Administration, Infrastructure and Public Safety/Regulatory. The head of each sub-cabinet reported to the Chief of Staff.
Extent
62 Linear Feet (in 45 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
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.
Arrangement
Where possible the original organization has been maintained, although many of the papers were found loose-lying. Loose-lying papers have been marked as such on the files. The records have been split into six series:
- Series 1: Subject Files, 1979-1988, undated
- Series 2: AIDS, 1985-1988
- Series 3: Education, 1984-1988, undated
- Series 4: Chicago Public Library, 1975-1988, undated
- Series 5: Photographs, 1983-1988, undated
- Series 6: Newspapers, 1985-1987, undated
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 records were acquired by the Chicago Public Library after Harold Washington’s death.
Subject
- Chicago (Ill.). Department of Health (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Department of Human Services (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Department on Aging and Disability (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Mayor's Advisory Commission on Women's Affairs (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Mayor's Commission on Human Relations (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Mayor's Office of Inquiry & Information (Organization)
- Chicago (Ill.). Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues. (Organization)
- Chicago Public Library. Municipal Reference Collection (Organization)
Geographic
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Emigration and immigration
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Politics and government.
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Social conditions.
Topical
- AIDS (Disease) -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Asian Americans -- Illinois -- Chicago -- Sources
- Budget -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Community Development Block Grant Program (Chicago, Ill.).
- Education and state -- Illinois -- Chicago
- HIV infections
- Harold Washington Library Center (Chicago Public Library) -- History -- Sources
- Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative (Chicago, Ill.)
- Literacy -- Illinois -- Chicago
- Title
- Guide to the Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Mayoral Records. Community Services Sub-Cabinet Series
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Morag Walsh, 1998. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2021.
- Date
- 1998
- 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