Harold Washington Archives and Collections. Mayoral Records. Schedules and Evaluations Records
Scope and Contents
The files contain extremely specific information regarding the events that Mayor Washington was scheduled to attend. As well as the outlined daily schedules and briefing notes, there are pre-site evaluations, which often include a floor plan of the venue, information regarding where the Mayor would be entering and who would be seated to the Mayor’s left and right. On-site evaluations recorded such facts as how well the Mayor was received by the audience, the number of those in attendance, the racial mix of the audience and evaluations as to whether the event was worth attending. Also included in many of the files are copies of speeches the Mayor gave, printed programs of the event, proclamations issued by the Mayor, initial letters of invitations to events and forms with information for the City’s thank you letter.
The files date between November 1986 and November 1987, and as such, there is much information regarding the numerous fundraising events held for the re-election of Mayor Washington. Information regarding his victory and second inauguration is scant, and there are some events listed that the Mayor did not attend.
Researchers should also be aware of similar information held in the Schedules and Briefing Notes sub-series within the Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Records.
Dates
- 1986 - 1987
Creator
- Washington, Harold, 1922-1987 (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 Schedules and Evaluation Series consists of the files of Mayor Washington’s Scheduling Department. The records were created by Rich Redmond at the Mayor’s Scheduling Office, Ed Hamb, Special Assistant to the Mayor, Rich Chappell and JoAnne Mitchell. They cover the events that the Mayor planned to attend between November 5, 1986 and November 24, 1987, the day before he died.
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 degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago and a law degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., 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
9 Linear Feet (in 19 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Files from Mayor Harold Washington’s Scheduling Department detailing events that the mayor was invited to. Records include reports of site-visits, seating plans, floor plans of the venue, the racial mix of the audience and follow-up reports about how the Mayor was received.
Arrangement
Files are in chronological order.
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.
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Politics and government -- 1951- Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Floor plans Subject Source: Local sources
- Itineraries Subject Source: Local sources
- Records (Documents) Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Seating charts Subject Source: Local sources
Creator
- Washington, Harold, 1922-1987 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Harold Washington Archies and Collections. Mayoral Records. Schedules and Evaluations Records
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Originally processed by Morag Walsh in 1997. Updated by Morag Walsh, 2021. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2022.
- Date
- 1997
- 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