Oscar De Priest papers
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Oscar De Priest papers
- Dates
- 1916-1983
- Creator
- De Priest, Oscar, 1871-1951
- Creator
- De Priest, Lawrence, d. 1916 , De Priest, Oscar Stanton, Jr. , Freemasons. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois
- Size
- 2.5 linear ft. (2 boxes; 3 scrapbooks)
- Language
- Material is in English unless otherwise noted.
Scope and Content
Correspondence, clippings, scrapbooks, bulletins, and other papers of Oscar De Priest relating to his political career and family. He was U.S. Congressman (Republican) from 1st District of Illinois (Chicago's near South Side), 1929-1935, and active in Chicago politics before and after that period. Materials include several dozen condolence letters received by De Priest and his wife in 1916 upon the death of their son Lawrence; a notebook listing names of those sending flowers to a De Priest family funeral; a copy of the application for National Register of Historic Places status for De Priest's home (1974); several typewritten sheets of De Priest family genealogical information; and various newsclippings about De Priest. De Priest held various posts in the Republican Party and was a Chicago alderman, 1915-1917 and 1943-1947. Also present are several bulletins/programs produced by the M.W. Prince Hall, Grand Lodge F. A. & F. M. (Masonic), of which De Priest's son Oscar Stanton De Priest was Grand Master, 1950s-1960s.
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 Mrs. Oscar Stanton De Priest (1992.0129).
Biography or History
De Priest was the first African American elected to Congress in the 20th century.
Indexed Terms
- De Priest, Oscar -- 1871-1951
- De Priest, Lawrence -- d. 1916
- DePriest, Oscar -- 1871-1951
- De Priest, Oscar Stanton -- Jr.
- DePriest, Oscar Stanton, -- Jr.
- Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
- Republican Party (Ill.)
- Republican Party (Cook County, Ill.)
- Freemasons -- Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Illinois
- African American families -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- African American legislators -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- African American legislators -- United States -- 20th century
- African Americans -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- City council members -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Election districts -- United States -- 1st Congressional District (Ill.)
- Election districts -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 1st Congressional District (Ill.)
- Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
- Near South Side (Chicago, Ill.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
- Bulletins
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Genealogies
- Lists
- Scrapbooks