Skip to main content

South Chicago Community Collection

 Collection
Identifier: spe-nhrc-sccc

Scope and Contents

The South Chicago Community Collection contains a range of ephemera, pamphlets, photographs and news clippings about the neighborhood’s residents, business establishments, religious institutions, clubs and organizations, hospitals, municipal agencies, residences, schools, streets, transportation, and wartime activities. Among the organizations and topics are the Calumet and Chicago Canal & Dock Co., the Cal-Sag Channel Project, the South Chicago Community Forum, and the steel industry. The collection also contains numerous photographs of William A. Rowan (1882-1961) most of which relate to his activities as 10th Ward Alderman (1927-1942) and later as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1943-1947).

Dates

  • circa 1850s-circa 2000, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

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

Biographical / Historical

The South Chicago neighborhood is 10 miles southeast of the Loop. The neighborhood extends along South Chicago Avenue east to the Lake and Calumet River and from 79th Street south to 95th Street. South Chicago is number 46 of the 77 official neighborhoods that make up Chicago.

Extent

10.5 Linear Feet (in 11 boxes, including 209 photographs, 4 oversize folders)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The South Chicago Community Collection contains a range of ephemera, pamphlets, photographs and news clippings about the neighborhood’s residents, business establishments, religious institutions, clubs and organizations, hospitals, municipal agencies, residences, schools, streets, transportation, and wartime activities.

Arrangement

The South Chicago Community Collection is arranged into 10 series:

Series 1: Biographical Data, 1880-1970, undated

Series 2: Business Establishments, circa 1882-1977, undated

Series 3: Religious Institutions, 1876-1960, undated

Series 4: Clubs and Organizations, 1889-1962, undated

Series 5: Historical Sketches, 1936-circa 2000, undated

Series 6: Hospitals, 1952-1958

Series 7: Municipal Agencies, 1887-1966, undated

Series 8: Schools, 1897-1969

Series 9: Street Scenes, circa 1850s-1957, undated

Series 10: Transportation Photographs, circa 1890-1949, undated

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from Chicago Public Library, South Chicago Branch in 1985 as part of a Dr. Scholl Foundation grant. Materials continue to be added through transfer and donation.

Related Materials

Calumet Region Community Collection

Chicago Department of Urban Renewal

Lillian M. Campbell Memorial Collection

South Shore Community Collection

South Shore Historical Society Records

South Chicago Newspaper Collection

Title
Guide to the South Chicago Community Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Original author unknown, 1989. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Michelle McCoy, 2022.
Date
1989
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