Washington Heights Community Organization Archives
Content Description
Washington Heights Community Organization, formed in 1966 for the upkeep and economic development and growth of the area, was initially composed of formal block clubs in the Washington Heights and Mount Vernon communities. The archive includes correspondence, board minutes, agendas, newspaper clippings and organizational files.
These files contain newsletters, correspondence, legal documents and the organization’s constitution and by-laws. They also contain files on the community’s fight with the Chicago Board of Education to name a new area school after Marcus Garvey. During construction and its first year, this school was known as “the school at 103rd and Morgan,” and unofficially, “the No Name School.” By March 1974, it officially became the Marcus Garvey Elementary School.
Dates
- 1968 - 2003
Creator
- Washington Heights Community Organization (Chicago, Ill.), (author., Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions
Conditions Governing Use
Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection
Biographical / Historical
Washington Heights Civic Organization (WHCO) was a member of the Organizations for the Southwest Communities areas. It was organized in 1966 to serve residents in southern part of the Washington Heights neighborhood. This organization does not include the northern half of the area designated Washington Heights because the Dan Ryan expressway became the unofficial barrier between the white and African American communities.
John Hayes was one of the 15 residents who helped form the WHCO. In October 1968 Ralston Reid Hayes, Chicago Public Schools teacher, became the first WHCO president.
WHCO revamped its constitution and bylaws and elected a ten-member executive board which included 4 vice presidents. Some of the issues it fought was the overcrowding of schools like Fernwood Elementary School, adequate streetlights and traffic signs and to campaign for more businesses to replace those that had left the community. They held annual fundraisers like the Fall Extravaganza to raise monies for the school fiscal year and to stimulate community spirit and support.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (1 linear foot in 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Washington Heights Civic Organization, formed in 1966 for the upkeep and economic development and growth of the area, was initially composed of formal block clubs in the Washington Heights and Mount Vernon communities. The organization also campaigned to name a neighborhood elementary school after Marcus Garvey. The archive includes correspondence, board minutes, agendas, newspaper clippings and organizational files.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 4 series: Administrative Records, Organizations, Marcus Garvey School and Newspaper Clippings.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Dr. John Hayes and Garnett Collins, March 2003
- Chicago (Ill.). Board of Education
- Chicago Public Schools
- Clippings. Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Marcus Garvey Elementary School (Chicago, Ill.)
- Records (Documents) Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Washington Heights (Chicago, Ill.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington Heights Community Organization (Chicago, Ill.) -- : Archives.
Creator
- Washington Heights Community Organization (Chicago, Ill.), (author., Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Washington Heights Community Organization Archives
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Beverly Cook
- Date
- April 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection Repository
Woodson Regional Library
Chicago Public Library
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago IL 60628 United States
(312) 745-2080
harshcollection@chipublib.org