Illinois Legislative Black Caucus records
Descriptive Summary
- Reference No.
- MSS 2007-95
- Creator
- Illinois Legislative Black Caucus 1979-2006
- Title
- Illinois Legislative Black Caucus records
- Span Dates
- 1979-2006
- Contents
- 9 boxes; 3.75 linear feet
- Repository
-
Archives and Special
Collections,Chicago, IL 60128
- Summary
- The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus advocates for the interests of African Americans and other minorities in the Illinois General Assembly. This collection includes official papers produced and collected by the Caucus, particularly from the 1980's and early 1990's.
- Languages
- English
Administrative Information
Provenance
Senator Donne E. Trotter donated the collection on May 11, 2007. Additional materials was donated by Senator Trotter’s office on December 3, 2007.
Location
Bin #0204416A
Restrictions
None
Preferred Citation
Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, [Box##, Folder##], Chicago State University Archives and Special Collections.
Administrative History
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus was founded in 1969 to organize minority members of the Illinois General Assembly into an effective interest group. The organization was created to ensure cooperation among black legislators and prevent the dilution of their voting strength through personal or ideological discord. In 1966, as the numbers of African-Americans elected to the state legislature was growing, Representatives Harold Washington, Louis A.H. Caldwell, Otis Collins, and Calvin Smith created a study group to discuss political issues and strategies of interest to the black community. In 1969 their group evolved into the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. As its ranks grew, it became a small but powerful voting bloc, sometimes forging unusual political alliances to win support for the measures they backed. The Caucus advocates on behalf of the interests of the poor and tries to ensure that state contracts are distributed fairly to minority businesses. Labeling itself the “conscience of the General Assembly” it strenuously resists efforts by governors to cut social spending and services from the state budget. It has also been involved in debates over issues such as education, gambling policy, taxes, and racial profiling. While headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, it is especially active in the Chicago area, where the districts of a majority of its members are located. In recent years the Caucus has accounted for 10-15% of the membership of the General Assembly. During the 1980s, as Latino/a politicians were elected to the General Assembly, the organization became known as the Illinois Legislative Minorities Caucus. Since the establishment of a separate Illinois Legislative Hispanic Caucus, it has reverted to its original name. During the 1980s the Caucus was chaired by Representative Robert LeFlore. In 1992 Senator Donne E. Trotter took over as Joint Caucus chair; today the Caucus is led by Senator James Meeks.
Indexed Terms
Indexed Terms
Indexed Terms
Scope and Content
The collection consists of correspondence among caucus members; memoranda; press releases; agendas and minutes from caucus meetings; materials from caucus conventions and conferences, including the annual ILBC African-American Issues conferences; financial and administrative materials; and legislative initiatives, policy statements, and research. The bulk of the material covers the period 1979-1991. Many documents deal with the legislative goals of the Caucus and its organizational and fundraising efforts. Some highlights include the vigorous opposition to Governor James Thompson’s budgetary cuts in the late 1970s, campaigns to get IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) money distributed more equitably in ILBC districts, and the internal debate over Senator Earleen Collins’ effort to incorporate the Illinois Black Caucus Conference Committee.
Arrangement
The ILBC records are divided into 5 series: I. Correspondence II. Conference materials III. Papers, studies, meeting minutes IV. Financial and organizational materials V. Photographs.
Collection Inventory and Description
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence Black Caucus, 1979
- Title
- Press Releases and Correspondence Black Caucus, 1980
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1981-82
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1983
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1984
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1985
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1986
- Title
- Black Caucus Press Releases and Correspondence, 1987
- Title
- Black Caucus Correspondence, 1988
- Title
- Black Caucus 1989 and 1990
- Title
- Caucus Correspondence, 1991
- Title
- Black Cauus 1991
- Title
- Incoming Correspondence [1987-1992]
- Title
- ILBC Press Releases
- Title
- Outgoing Correspondence
- Title
- 1991 ILBC Conference Proposal
- Title
- Voucher Registrations 1991
- Title
- Registrations and waived
- Title
- Various Contracts [1991]
- Title
- Staff and Volunteers for 1991 ILBC
- Title
- Exhibit Booth Requests 1991
- Title
- NSF Checks for Registration 1991
- Title
- Plans for Black Caucus State Convention
- Title
- Legislative Black Caucus Annual Convention
- Title
- Access to Higher Education Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Budget Review
- Title
- Community Dev. Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Criminal Justice Vista 5 Sat.
- Title
- Community and Economic Development Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Economic Development Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Educational Equity Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Healthcare Vista 2 Sat.
- Title
- Housing Vista 4 Sat.
- Title
- Human Services Providers Network Vista 2 Sat.
- Title
- Human Development Sen. Collins Vista 4
- Title
- International Policy vista 5 Sat.
- Title
- Legislative Process Vista 3 Sat.
- Title
- Labor
- Title
- Local Leaders Sat. Vista 6 3:30-4:45 p
- Title
- Political Empowerment Vista 1 Sat.
- Title
- Reapportionment Rep. Morrow, fac. Vista 1
- Title
- School Reform
- Title
- Stress Management
- Title
- Substance Abuse - Vista 4 Sat.
- Title
- Welfare Rights - Vista 5 Sat.
- Title
- Youth Council - Vista 4 Sat.
- Title
- Sign-In sheets [blanks]
- Title
- Participant Profiles and Conference Evaluation forms
- Title
- 1990 and 1991 Agenda/Program Booklets
- Title
- 3rd African American Conference, Fri 10/2-Sun, 10/04, 1992
- Title
- 1994 Conference
- Title
- Registration information [also contains an ink pen]
- Title
- Paid invoices
- Title
- ILBC African-American Issues Conferences, 1990-1994
- Title
- Conf. Correspondence 1991
- Title
- Pre-paid Registrants
- Title
- Nine (9) "pocket" programs for ILBC African America Issues Conferences; 1990, (1); 1991, (1); 1992, (3); 1994, (2), 199 6, (2)
- Title
- "Building Future Bridges," Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, 6th Annual African American Issues Conference, April 25-27, 1997, one (1) announcement-brochure, two (2) "Program Booklet"copies
- Title
- "ILBC Workshop Evaluation Form, May 13 - 15, 1994," forty-one (41) coopies of completed evaluation forms for several sessions held during the 1994 conference
- Title
- Two (2) cassette tape recordings of ILBC 1994 Conference
- Title
- Gold Outing _Program and Black Caucus cassette tape
- Title
- Gorham's
- Title
- Important Papers
- Title
- Maryland Legislative Black Caucus
- Title
- ILBC Meeting Notices/Minutes [1985-1992]
- Title
- ILBC Meeting Notices/Minutes [1985-1992]
- Title
- ILBC Publicatins SubCommittee
- Title
- "The Black Leadership Family Plan for the Unity, Survival, And Progress of Black People, February 1982," booklet published by the Congressional Black Caucus, Washingto, D. C., 1982 4 copies
- Title
- "The Answer to the Nation's Most Pressing Problem, An Address to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus," The Honorable Reverend Walter E. Fauntroy, Saturday, April 26, 199 7, typescript, 12pp., 1 page [truncated] biography 8 copies t
- Title
- "Approach to Economic Justice Comprehensive Planning for Building a Local Economy A New Bill of Rights for Economic Justice," typescript, nine (2) pp. n.p., n.d., three (3) copies
- Title
- "Planning to Plan A Workshop" Facilita ted by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs University of Illinois Typescript, n.p., n.d. two (2) copies
- Title
- Black Caucus
- Title
- Miscellaneous Memoranda, 1985-1991
- Title
- Speech transcript, Senator Trotter, 2002
- Title
- Senator Trotter's Legislative Summaries
- Title
- Newspaper Clippings
- Title
- Research Memorandum: Black Legislators in Illinois, 1871-1985
- Title
- Mayor Harold Washington materials
- Title
- Legislative Initiatives and Interests
- Title
- IDOT Black Caucus
- Title
- "Expanded Capital Ownership"; "Senior Citizen Guide"
- Title
- Important Papers - Carol Mosley Braun
- Title
- "Strengthening Ties and Empowering our Communities,"pamphlet, November 2006
- Title
- "Black Political Progress in Illinois," typescript
- Title
- Two (2) audiocassette tapes. One titled, "Higher Education", one untitled
- Title
- Business and Financial Records
- Title
- Black Caucus Incorporation
- Title
- Directories, Staff Chart
- Title
- Constitution, Structure, By-Laws
- Title
- National Conference of Black State Legislators, Legislative Handbook (December 1991)
- Title
- Corporate sponsors [photocopied checks and lists of contributors]
- Title
- Framed photograph
- Title
- Photographs: A. 1) Dinner 2) Dancers 3) Fauntroy speaking B. ILBC C. ILBC Fauntroy Speech D. ILBC 1) Pat Fauntroy speech E. ILBC F. ILBC 1) End Fauntroy Speech 2) Start Breakfast
- Title
- Photographs: A. ILBC B. 1) Fauntroy Speech 2) ILBC-[illegible] Shots 3) [illegible] C. ILBC D. ILBC Fauntroy Autographs E. 1) Fauntroy arrival 2) Dinner Shots 3) paul Grove Shot F. ILBC G. Post Fauntroy Speech
- Title
- Photographs, 1994 African-American Conference, May 13-15, 1994
- Title
- Photographs, A. Table/Guest Shots B. ILBC C. Fauntroy Speaking-Dinner D. ILBC E. ILBC F. Workshops/Sat Dinner G. ILBC
- Title
- Photographs: A. Luncheon, May 14, 1994 B. Workshops and Reception, 5/14/94 C. Dinner 5/14/94 and Breakfast 5/15/94 D. Reception 5/13/94 E. Dinner 5/14/94 and Breakfast 5/15/94 F. Reception 5/13/94 Workshops and Luncheon 5/14/94 G. Unlabeled H. Unlabeled