Roland W. Burris papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Roland W. Burris papers
Dates: 1979-1994
Creator: Burris, Roland W.
Creator: Illinois. Attorney General , Illinois. Comptroller's Office
Size: 19.5 linear ft. (48 boxes)
Language: Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Scope and Content

Speech transcripts, press clippings, event backgrounders for speaking engagements, and other papers of Roland W. Burris, an Illinois lawyer and politician, who was the first African American elected to state-wide office in Illinois. The speeches were given by Burris at various civic engagements during his tenure as Illinois Comptroller (1979-1991) and Illinois Attorney General (1991-1995). Event backgrounders include preparatory information Burris received for each speaking engagement providing basic details for the event. Also included are inventories of Burris' speeches listing date, topic, location, and other details. Speech topics include legislation, labor, public works, civics, education, race and ethnicity, religion, and advocacy for the underrepresented. Materials are arranged chronologically within their series.

Conditions for Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Contact the archives for more information on licensing and permissions for use and reproduction.

Preferred Citation

A common citation for archives is as follows: Item, Folder number and/or title, Box number, Collection title, ID number, Repository name, location.

Custodial History

Gift of Roland W. Burris (1995.0120).

Biography or History

In 2009, Mr. Burris was appointed to fill Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, which became vacated when Mr. Obama became President.

Related Material

Related materials at the Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Roland W. Burris visual materials (1995.0120).

Descriptive inventory available online.

Contents

Collection Access