Chicago Municipal Records Guide

Search results for digitized images of Chicago aldermen and candidates for aldermen hosted on the Chicago Collections Consortium site.

Jacob Arvey served as alderman for Chicago’s 24th Ward (1923-1941). The collection contains correspondence, pamphlets, flyers, meeting minutes, committee reports, newsletters, personal calendars, election vote tallies, photographs and other papers of Jacob M. Arvey concerning his work in the Chicago City Council as 24th Ward Alderman (1923-1941) and on City Council committees, such as the Committee on Track Elevation (1924-1925), Committee on Gas, Oil and Electric Light (1925-1928), and the Illinois Relief Commission (1936); as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party (1946-1950); and as Commissioner of the Chicago Park District Board (1950s-1960s).

Robert Buck served as alderman for Chicago's 33rd ward (1915-1917). The collection includes correspondence and other papers relating to the role of Alderman Buck, a journalist, in the Chicago City Council's investigation into the operation of the Chicago public schools.

Archibald Carey served as alderman for Chicago's 3rd ward (1947-1955). The collection includes correspondence and other papers relating to Carey's activities as a lawyer, politician, and alderman (1947-1955) of the 3rd ward in Chicago.

Christopher Cohen served as alderman for Chicago's 46th ward (1971-1977). The collection covers a wide range of topics, including health care, civil rights, the war on poverty, juvenile delinquency, Chicago grassroots and community activist movements, Chicago tow-truck company abuse, the Chicago lottery, Chicago mounted police patrols, and inner city branch banking services.

Frank Corr served as alderman for Chicago's 17th ward (1931-1934). He briefly acted as the 45th mayor of Chicago after the assassination of Anton Cermak in 1933. The collection includes a disbound scrapbook (1933-1934) containing newspaper clippings about Frank J. Corr, a Chicago lawyer, and his terms as alderman of Chicago's 17th Ward (South Englewood, West Englewood and North Auburn Gresham neighborhoods) and, briefly, as acting mayor of Chicago after the assassination of Anton Cermak.

Vi Daley served as alderman for Chicago's 43rd ward (1999-2011). The Vi Daley papers were created and maintained during Daley’s three terms as Alderman from 1999 to 2011 and her time as Chief of Staff (1994-1998) for Alderman Charles Bernardini’s term are included. The majority of her papers are materials relating to Lincoln Park urban planning regarding the Columbus Hospital, the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Armitage Station (Brown Line) and Fullerton (Red Line) redevelopment projects and the numerous historic preservation initiatives throughout the 43rd Ward during her years of service.

William Dawson served as alderman for Chicago's 2nd ward (1933-1939). The collection includes correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings, press releases, testimonials, and other papers relating to the career of William L. Dawson, a Chicago (Ill.) lawyer, alderman of the 2nd Ward, and U.S. Congressman (Democrat from the 1st District of Illinois; 1943-1970).

Alderman for Chicago's 2nd ward (1915-1917) and 3rd ward (1943-1947). The collection includes correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, bulletins, and other papers of Oscar De Priest relating to his political career and family.

Leon Despres served as alderman of Chicago's 5th ward (1955-1975). The collection includes extensive aldermanic records composed of correspondence, microfilm copies of clippings, telephone request and complaint cards revealing concerns of his constituents, and subject files

Earl Dickerson served as alderman of Chicago's 2nd Ward (1939-1943). He also served as assistant corporation counsel for the City of Chicago (1923-1927) in addition to other civic and political roles. The collection includes scrapbooks (7 v.) and unbound materials, including newsclippings, photographs, speeches, correspondence, campaign literature, legal briefs, and other materials of Earl B. Dickerson, a Chicagoan, relating to his career as a lawyer and his activities in politics, civil rights and civil liberties, and government service.

Marilou Hedlund served as alderman for Chicago's 48th ward (1971-1975). She was one of the first women to be elected to the Chicago City Council. She also was the first woman to receive the endorsement of the Democratic Organization of Cook County for alderman. The collection includes correspondence, reports, memorandums, newspaper clippings, and topical reference files of Hedlund when she served as Alderman (Democratic) of the 48th Ward (Uptown and Edgewater community areas) in Chicago, Illinois.

Barnet Hodes served as alderman for Chicago's 7th ward (1931-1933). He also served as Assistant Corporation Council and Corporation Council for the City of Chicago. The collection also includes materials related to his participation in the administration of Mayor Ed Kelly (1933-1947).

Fred Hubbard served as alderman for Chicago's 2nd ward (1969-1972). The collection includes issues of the Independent People's Organization (I.P.O) newsletter, plus a campaign flyer for his 1967 run for the Office of Alderman of Chicago's 2nd Ward.

Edward Manierre served as alderman of Chicago's 1st Ward (1848-1850). He also served as Chairman of the Committee on Streets & Alleys and the Committee on Police (1848) as well as city treasurer (1849). The collection includes reminiscences of Chicago; comments on official activities during author's career as Alderman of First Ward and Chairman of the Committee on Streets & Alleys and the Committee on Police (1848), and as Treasurer of the city (1849).

Robert Merriam served as alderman for Chicago's 5th ward (1946-1955). The papers include personal and professional correspondence, notes, manuscripts, and offprints of published and unpublished historical and political writings, and speech transcripts. Because of his reform-minded approach to Chicago city government and his nine-year chairmanship of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Merriam's papers constitute an important source of information on both Chicago politics leading up to the Daley regime and the changes in federalism during the 1970s.

Ralph Metcalfe served as alderman for Chicago's 3rd ward (1955-1971). The papers include early correspondence, awards, photographs, official documents and memorabilia.This collection is unprocessed.

Bertram Moss served as alderman for Chicago's 5th ward (1943-1947). The Bertram Moss Papers include correspondence, memoranda, notes, speeches, reports, photographs, certificates, programs, clippings, published articles, newsletters, flyers, brochures, pamphlets, articles of incorporation, legal documents, maps, political advertisements and campaign literature. Some U.S. Government and City of Chicago documents are also included. Much of the Bertram Moss Papers consists of material related to major controversies and issues during his time in office as Alderman of the 5th Ward.

James Murray served as alderman of the 18th Ward in Chicago (1959-1967). The collection includes correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, and other papers chiefly pertaining to his service as alderman.

Burton Natarus served as alderman for Chicago's 42nd ward (1971-2007). This collection contains materials collected by Burton Natarus' 42nd Ward office between 1971 and 2006.

Martin Oberman served as alderman of the 43rd ward (1975-1987). The collection includes correspondence, topical files, press releases and campaign financing documents pertaining to Martin J. Oberman's career as an Alderman for the 43rd Ward of Chicago (Ill.) and his scrutiny of city finances.

Roman Pucinski served as alderman for Chicago's 41st ward (1973-1991). The papers include correspondence with colleagues and constituents, reports, fliers, texts of speeches, memorabilia, drafts of legislation, sound recordings, index cards, and other files relating to his political career.

Esther Saperstein served as alderman for Chicago's 49th Ward (1974-1979). The collection consists of speeches, periodicals, campaign literature, and more.

Helen Shiller served as alderman for Chicago's 46th ward (1987-2011). The collection includes correspondence, reports, blueprints and plans, notes, flyers and other ephemera, plaques, newspaper and magazine articles and clippings, audiovisual and born-digital materials, and photographs. The materials pertain to Helen Shiller’s career as an alderperson (1987-2011), her campaigns for public office (1978, 1979, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007), and her role as an activist and public citizen.

Mary Ann Smith served as alderman for Chicago's 48th ward (1989-2011). Mary Ann Smiths papers pertain primarily to her tenure as Alderman of the 48th Ward, and are divided into eleven series with multiple subseries, and an addendum including nine series with multiple subseries. The collection is a reflection primarily of Smiths public works and not her personal life. Thus the business of the 48th Ward dominates the content.

Bennett Stewart served as alderman for Chicago's 21st Ward (1971-1978). The papers include correspondence, speeches, awards, and aldermanic campaign disclosure material.

Marion Volini served as alderman for Chicago's 48th ward (1978-1988). The papers include campaign material and City Council and committee materials.