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Harold Washington Archvies and Collections, Pre-Mayoral Records, U.S. Congressional Records

 Collection
Identifier: spe-h00159

Scope and Contents

The materials in the U.S. Congressional record group were created by Harold Washington, along with his staff and volunteers, during his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1981-1983. These files document Washington's promotion and sponsorship of legislation; his committee work and his involvement with the Congressional Black Caucus; his correspondence and other contacts with his constituents; and his campaigns for office. The records show the extensive community activity handled by Washington's 1st District Office including casework, fundraising and the organizing of task forces to deal with such issues as housing and health. The records include reports, correspondence, research files, testimony, drafts of legislation, speeches and news clippings. For photographs, please see the Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection.

Dates

  • 1970 - 1983
  • Majority of material found within 1980 - 1983

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials open without restrictions. Files in Series 3, Subseries A and Series 3, Subseries J have been redacted or separated for privacy reasons and are indicated as CLOSED.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Historical Note

Harold Washington (1922-1987) served the 1st Congressional District of Illinois during the 97th and 98th Congresses. Having won the Democratic primary election in March 1980, Washington carried the general election on November 4, 1980. He was sworn in on January 5, 1981. In November 1982 he was re-elected to a second term, and served until his inauguration as Mayor of Chicago on April 29, 1983.

Washington's congressional office in Washington, D.C. ("D.C. Office") was headed by Administrative Assistant William Ware. Samuel Patch served as District Administrator of the First District Office in Chicago ("District Office"). Records generated by these two offices were not always clearly identified, and Washington worked from both offices.

As Congressman, Harold Washington was a member of three congressional committees: Education and Labor; Government Operations; and Judiciary. Washington was also a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the House Democratic Study Group, the Congressional Steel Caucus, and the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition.

Harold Washington was particularly concerned about civil rights and voting rights; criminal justice reform; the reduction of defense spending to benefit domestic health, education and welfare programs; and affirmative action. Best known for his active support of the extension of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, he also pushed for the allocation of Title I funds on the basis of the 1980 Census. His foreign policy interests included Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

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

57 Linear Feet (in 43 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Correspondence, speeches, press releases and reports from Washington’s tenure as Congressman for the First District and a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Of note are his legislative files and those from his committee and caucus work.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into eight series:

  • Series 1: Legislative, 1979-1983
  • Series 2: Committee and Caucus, 1976-1983
  • Series 3: Constituent, 1971-1983
  • Series 4: Campaign, 1976-1983
  • Series 5: Press and Publicity, 1976-1983
  • Series 6: Administrative, D.C. Office, 1980-1983
  • Series 7: Biographical, 1970-1983
  • Series 8: Artifact, 1981-1982

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.

Related Materials

  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Representative Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Senate 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, Pre-Mayoral Records, U.S. Congressional Records
Status
Completed
Author
Originally processed by Special Collections staff in the early 1990s. Updated by Morag Walsh, 2021. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Sarah Zimmerman, 2022.
Date
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