Leon M. Despres papers
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Leon M. Despres papers
- Dates
- 1929-1982,
- Predominant Dates
- bulk 1955-1975
- Creator
- Despres, Leon Mathis, 1908-2009
- Creator
- Hickman, James Willis, 1907-1981 , Building Service Employees' International Union , United States.National Labor Relations Board
- Size
- 103 linear ft.
- Size
-
3 microfilm reels :
neg. ;(Legislative record 1961-1975).35mm.
- Size
-
3 microfilm reels ;
(Reader copy of Legislative record).35 mm.
- Size
-
21 microfilm reels ;
(Newsclippings 1953-1976).35mm.
- Size
-
1 microfilm reel ;
(Notebooks 1977, 1982).16 mm.
- Language
- Material is in English unless otherwise noted.
Scope and Content
Subject files, correspondence, constituent requests, and newsclippings, chiefly from Despres' service as Chicago 5th Ward Alderman (Independent), 1955-1975. Topics include Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhood matters, city planning, budgets, racial discrimination, schools, crime, and urban renewal. The collection also contains a small group of papers from Despres' private law practice, many involving civil liberties.
Scope and Content
Chiefly papers generated during Despres's 20 years as alderman of Chicago's Fifth Ward and pertaining to his political and social interests in representing the Hyde Park neighborhood, as well as some material reflecting his career as a lawyer. Includes extensive aldermanic records composed of correspondence, microfilm copies of clippings, telephone request and complaint cards revealing concerns of his constituents, and subject files; together with records of Fifth Ward Citizens' Committee, a civic organization which supported Alderman Despres and worked for his reelections, and papers from his legal career, pertaining to such issues as his work with American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Nathan Leopold's invasion of privacy suit against Meyer Levin. Topics include city finances and planning, discrimination in housing and employment, pollution and environmental control, public education, crime, urban renewal, and zoning.
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 Leon M. Despres beginning in 1966.
Processing Information
Expired restriction2009Researchers must secure Mr. Despres' written approval in order to consult the files relating to Nathan Leopold's lawsuit against Meyer Levin, 1958-1973.
Descriptive inventory available in the repository.
Indexed Terms
- Despres, Leon Mathis -- 1908-2009
- Hickman, James Willis -- 1907-1981
- Actions and defenses -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- City council members -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Election districts -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 5th Ward
- Labor unions -- Illinois -- 20th century
- Lawyers -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Real property and taxation -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Schools -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
- Chicago (Ill.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century
- Hyde Park (Chicago, Ill.)
- Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.)
- Correspondence
- Newspaper clippings
- Reports
Citation/Reference
NUCMC MS 71-895.