Topics based on the Collections of the UIC Special Collections

Activism isn't only for the young! In 1970, six retired women formed the intergenerational Gray Panthers to advocate for improved social conditions. The organization's records document their history, leadership, and activities on behalf of the elderly and of all people regardless of age.

Gray Panthers of Chicago Records (1973-1993); 16 linear feet

In the 1960s, The Woodlawn Organization used collective action to combat the deterioration of their South Side Chicago neighborhood. The records of the Industrial Areas Foundation document the struggles of this organization to affect change in their community.

Industrial Areas Foundation (1952-2004); 85 linear feet

"A Century of Progress Chicago International Exposition of 1933" commemorated the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Chicago. The fair, which was held in the midst of the Great Depression, triumphed over hard times to attract over 40 million visitors. The records for "A Century of Progress" contain publicity materials generated by the Fair to entice people to make the trip to Chicago.

A Century of Progress Records, (1927-1952); 555 linear feet

In 1899, social activists and reformers in Chicago established the first Juvenile Court in the country. In recent years, however, court proceedings have been criticized for unfairness. The papers of Juvenile Court Judge Mary Bartelme give insight into the motivation and operation of the early Juvenile Court. The papers of the League of Women Voters contain the records of court watchers who monitored the trials of children to check for abuses.

Mary Bartelme Papers (1904-1958); 4.75 linear feet
League of Women Voters of Illinois (1916-2000); 38 linear feet

In the early 1960s, the Hull-House settlement house and the surrounding neighborhood were torn down to make room for a new University of Illinois campus on the Near West Side of Chicago. The location was viewed as wrong by neighborhood residents who lost their homes but as a triumph for students of the new urban campus. Records in the University of Illinois at Chicago University Archives document this controversial decision.

UIC University Archives Near West Side Community Committee Records (1947-1966); 54 linear feet

The Equal Rights Amendment (E.R.A.) which sought to guarantee the equality of the sexes within the U.S. Constitution has been continually reintroduced into Congressional sessions since 1923 but remains unratified. The records of the Illinois chapter of the League of Women Voters and the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) document their support for the amendment and its defeat in Illinois.

League of Women Voters of Illinois (1916-2000); 38 linear feet
Young Women's Christian Association; 38 linear feet

In the early 20th century, the Juvenile Protective Association (JPA) conducted studies of various places in which children were employed including bowling alleys, theaters, and street trades. Studies and case files from the JPA provide a tragic record of the working life of children in the United States.

Juvenile Protective Association Records (1904-1952); 21 linear feet

In 1980, Chicago's Cook County Hospital stopped providing abortions to patients except in cases where the life of the mother was at risk. The Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance fought to reverse the Cook County Board decision. The records of the organization trace its confrontation with the Cook County Hospital Board and the strategies they used to gain the restoration of abortion services at the hospital.

Illinois Pro-Choice Alliance Records (1977-1995); 16.5 linear feet

The prevention of sexually transmitted disease through education was a goal of The Institute for Sex Education, founded in 1916. Their records document this controversial approach to triumphing over venereal disease.

The Institute for Sex Education Records (predominantly 1950-1971); 15.5 linear feet

With its landscaped gardens, orchard, and cottages for campers, the Joseph T. Bowen Country Club - the Hull-House settlement house summer camp -- offered a refuge from the tragic squalor of the city for thousands of children from Chicago's Near West Side. Records and photographs from the settlement house illustrate the operation of the camp from its founding in 1912 to its closure in the 1960s.

Hull-House Collection (1889-1970); 34 linear feet
Louise deKoven Bowen Papers (1911-1957); .5 linear feet

For MORE ideas based on UIC Special Collections, go to their website at: www.uic.edu/depts/lib/specialcoll/