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Jane Ramsey Papers

Descriptive Summary

Repository
Special Collections Unit at Harold Washington Library Center
Title
Jane Ramsey Papers
Creator
Ramsey, Jane L., 1950-
Identifier
spe.h00175
Size
2.5 Linear Feet in 5 boxes
Dates
1982-1988
Abstract
Jane Ramsey served in Mayor Harold Washington's cabinet as Director of Community Relations (1986-1988) and served as Executive Director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Her papers represent her work in Washington's administration and his campaigns for Mayor, with an emphasis on Jewish voters.
Storage Location
Materials are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please request materials at least 24-hours prior to your research visit to coordinate access.
Language
English .

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Jane Ramsey in 2018

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Jane Ramsey Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library

Biographical / Historical

Jane Ramsey joined the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) in 1979 and served as the organization's executive director from 1982 to 2012. In 1986, she took a two-year leave from JCUA to serve in Mayor Harold Washington's administration as Director of Community Relations, advising on outreach and engagement with Chicago's communities, in addition to overseeing scheduling for Mayor Washington. Ramsey was also an active volunteer in both Washington's 1983 and 1987 mayoral campaigns, serving as a northside Ward Coordinator and the Coordinator for Jewish Voters for Washington. In 2012, Ramsey founded Just Ventures to support organizations tackling social justice initiatives.

Ramsey serves as a lecturer and field instructor for the University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work Policy and Practice and a faculty advisor and professor at Experience Liberal Arts Colleges, headquartered in Shanghai, China. In addition to providing leadership training and public speaking, Ramsey has served on numerous boards including: CAN-TV, Chicago Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Chicago Women Take Action, the Commission on Social Action or Reform Judaism, Ethics Coalition, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago, KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, the Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Association, Private Industry Council (PIC), the Shalom Center, the Women's Commission of the City of Chicago and Women in Charge.

Ramsey holds a Master's degree from The University of Chicago, School of Social Administration and a Bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Scope and Contents

The Jane Ramsey Papers span from 1982 to 1988 and include administrative documents, budget files, campaign literature, meeting minutes and various files relating to community outreach during the Harold Washington administration through her role as Director of Community Relations. Of note is a series of files relating to outreach to Jewish voters, the administration's 1988 Management Plan and the Mayoral Speakers Bureau, a training program for preparing speakers from the Mayor's Office to provide dynamic and relevant outreach to all Chicago communities.

Arrangement

The Jane Ramsey Papers are arranged alphabetically by topic into a single series. Original order has been maintained as much as possible.

Related Materials

  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Mayoral Campaign Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Representative Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Illinois State Senatorial Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, U.S. Congressional Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Asian American Advisory Committee Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Central Files Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, City Council Proceedings Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Community Services Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Development Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Finance and Administration Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Legislative Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Press Office Photographs
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Press Office Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Public Safety/Regulatory Sub-Cabinet Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Real Estate Review Committee Records
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Videocassette Collection
  • Harold Washington Archives and Collections, Political Education Project Records
  • Eugene Sawyer Mayoral Records
  • Steve Askin Papers
  • Justice Graphics, Inc. Collection

Conditions Governing Use

Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection.

Indexed Terms

Inventory

Box 1
Folder 1
Title
Administrative- Community Relations, list of files
Dates
1987 January 22
Box 1
Folder 2
Title
Administrative- Contact lists
Dates
1987 July, undated
Box 1
Folder 3
Title
Administrative- Contact lists, Board and Commissions, Chairmen/Addresses
Dates
1987 August
Box 1
Folder 4
Title
Administrative- Contacts lists, Religious, "calls for funeral service lists"
Dates
1985-1987, undated
Box 1
Folder 5
Title
Administrative- Correspondence re: Jane Ramsey speaking request, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Dates
1987 January 21
Box 1
Folder 6
Title
Administrative- Directory, "1986 Temporary Directory"
Dates
1986
Box 1
Folder 7
Title
Administrative- Directory, Office of the Mayor, Eugene Sawyer, Acting Mayor
Dates
1988 March
Box 1
Folder 8
Title
Administrative- Directory, "Who's Who at City Hall"
Dates
1985
Box 1
Folder 9
Title
Administrative- Meeting agenda requests, integrated planning and investment policies
Dates
1988 January
Box 1
Folder 10
Title
Administrative- Meeting agendas, meeting minutes
Dates
1986-1987, undated
Box 1
Folder 11
Title
Administrative- Scheduling guidelines, daily record of work performed
Dates
1987 July-October
Box 1
Folder 12
Title
Administrative- Scheduling priorities, blank forms, notes
Dates
1987 August
Box 1
Folder 13
Title
Administrative- Schedule requests and analysis
Dates
1987 August-November, undated
Box 1
Folder 14
Title
Administrative- Telephone logs, Jane Ramsey
Dates
1987 August 20-1987 December 31
Box 1
Folder 15
Title
Administrative- Telephone logs, Jane Ramsey
Dates
1988 January 4-1988 April 7
Box 1
Folder 16
Title
Administrative- Unidentified notes
Dates
circa 1987, 1988, undated
Box 1
Folder 17
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator Bob Ahrens
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 18
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator Lonnie C. Edwards
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 19
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator Fred Rice
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 20
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator George Stone
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 21
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator James R. Turner, Jr.
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 22
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator S. Weed
Dates
1987
Box 1
Folder 23
Title
Budget- 1987 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator multiple
Dates
1987
Box 2
Folder 1
Title
Budget- 1988 Budget Outreach Effort
Dates
1987 October 15
Box 2
Folder 2
Title
Budget- 1988 Budget Outreach, Constituency Coordinator multiple
Dates
1988
Box 2
Folder 3
Title
Budget- Budget highlights, briefings
Dates
1987 October-December
Box 2
Folder 4
Title
Campaign- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago/Jewish Support Committee, Correspondence, notes, campaign literature
Dates
1982-1987
Box 2
Folder 5
Title
Campaign- Lakefront Organizing, meeting agenda and program suggestions
Dates
1985 April
Box 2
Folder 6
Title
Campaign- Memo, notes re: Tom Hynes campaign for Assessor
Dates
1983, 1986, 1987, undated
Box 2
Folder 7
Title
Campaign- Notebook, "Correspondence," includes general planning notes and contacts/notes for phone canvassing by precinct
Dates
undated
Box 2
Folder 8
Title
Campaign, 1983- Jewish voters, correspondence, press strategy
Dates
1983, 1984, undated
Box 2
Folder 9
Title
Campaign, 1983- Notes
Dates
1982, undated
Box 2
Folder 10
Title
Campaign, 1983- Women's Network for Washington
Dates
1983, undated
Box 2
Folder 11
Title
Campaign, 1987- "Chicago Is Working Better than Ever for Everyone: Major Accomplishments of Mayor Harold Washington"
Dates
1986
Box 2
Folder 12
Title
Campaign, 1987- Chicago's Jewish Federation, Mayor Harold Washington's Six Day Visit to Israel, July 1985 with photos and text by Helen Shiller
Dates
1987 January
Box 2
Folder 13
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Fundraising, correspondence
Dates
1986-1987
Box 2
Folder 14
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Lox and Bagel brunch and rally, planning notes
Dates
1987, undated
Box 2
Folder 15
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Lox and Bagel brunch and rally, planning notes, mailing lists
Dates
circa 1987
Box 2
Folder 16
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Lox and Bagels brunch and rally, planning notes, re-election events
Dates
1987 February-March
Box 2
Folder 17
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Lox and Bagels brunch and rally, press release, invoice
Dates
1987 February-March
Box 2
Folder 18
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Mayoral primary re-election notes
Dates
1987 February-March
Box 2
Folder 19
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for a United Chicago, Meeting minutes, notes
Dates
circa 1987
Box 2
Folder 20
Title
Campaign, 1987- Jewish Voters for United Chicago, "A Message for Jewish Voters..."
Dates
circa 1987
Box 2
Folder 21
Title
Campaign, 1987- Press release, "Vote for his record—Not his color!" (draft) and notes
Dates
circa 1987
Box 2
Folder 22
Title
Campaign, 1987- Speeches, talking points (with notations)
Dates
1987 February, undated
Box 2
Folder 23
Title
Campaign, 1987- Washington re-election literature
Dates
1987 February, undated
Box 3
Folder 1
Title
City Government- 1986 Priority Programs, 1987 Priority Programs
Dates
1986-1987
Box 3
Folder 2
Title
City Government- Action agenda, objectives and priorities by topic
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 3
Title
City Government- Development Subcabinet, meeting minutes
Dates
1988 April 13-27
Box 3
Folder 4
Title
City Government- Jewish appointees
Dates
undated
Box 3
Folder 5
Title
City Government- Mayor's office, memos
Dates
1987 April 9, 1987 June 3
Box 3
Folder 6
Title
City Government- Planning, Department of, "Targeted Planning Areas for 1988"
Dates
1987 August 10
Box 3
Folder 7
Title
City Government- Report, "Evaluations Received as of December 12, 1985"
Dates
1985 December
Box 3
Folder 8
Title
City Government- Subcabinets, "1986 Program Priorities by Subcabinet with Department Objectives"
Dates
1986 May 22
Box 3
Folder 9
Title
City Government- Transition committee, Memos, notes re: second term work plan
Dates
1987 May 13-June 24
Box 3
Folder 10
Title
City Government- Transition committee, External Affairs Citizen Participation Project, "excluded interests" and "participatory relationships needing improvement" interview matrixes
Dates
1987 June-September
Box 3
Folder 11
Title
City Government- "Washington Record by Interest Group"
Dates
1986
Box 3
Folder 12
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- 1988 Key Objectives, Proposed key objectives
Dates
1987 July 24-31, undated
Box 3
Folder 13
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Aviation, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 10
Box 3
Folder 14
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Chicago Public Library, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 14
Box 3
Folder 15
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Data Processing, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July
Box 3
Folder 16
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Draft, "Comprehensive Goals and Policies, 1988 Management Plan"
Dates
1987 July 17
Box 3
Folder 17
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Draft, four-year plan
Dates
circa 1987
Box 3
Folder 18
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Draft, "Four Year Plan, Based on Action Agenda Objectives," revised
Dates
1987 July 24
Box 3
Folder 19
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Draft, "Goals and Policies, 1988 Management Plan"
Dates
1987 June 22
Box 4
Folder 1
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Economic Development, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
[1987 July]
Box 4
Folder 2
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Municipal Investigation, Office of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 10
Box 4
Folder 3
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Planning, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
[1987 July]
Box 4
Folder 4
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Police, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 6
Box 4
Folder 5
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Public Works, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
[1987 July]
Box 4
Folder 6
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Sewers, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
[1987 July]
Box 4
Folder 7
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Streets and Sanitation, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 10
Box 4
Folder 8
Title
City Government, 1988 Management Plan- Water, Department of, key objectives and proposals
Dates
1987 July 10
Box 4
Folder 9
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- Agenda and training manual, "Effective Presentation Briefing"
Dates
circa 1987
Box 4
Folder 10
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- City of Chicago Ward brochures
Dates
1986
Box 4
Folder 11
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- City of Chicago Ward brochures
Dates
1986
Box 4
Folder 12
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- Contact list of speakers
Dates
1987 February 6
Box 4
Folder 13
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- Highlights from Mayor Washington speeches and remarks
Dates
1986 April-December, undated
Box 4
Folder 14
Title
City Government, Mayoral Speakers Bureau- Talking points and fact sheets
Dates
1987 January, undated
Box 4
Folder 15
Title
Community- 44th Ward Network, meeting notes, outreach 
Dates
1983, undated
Box 4
Folder 16
Title
Community- Community Renewal Society, "Building Communities from Within," proposals and strategy
Dates
1987 November-1988 March, undated
Box 4
Folder 17
Title
Community- "Notes Toward a Strategy to Stop Resegregation and Promote Integration in Chicago," (draft)
Dates
1987 October 16
Box 4
Folder 18
Title
Community, Weekly Reports- Reports re: child welfare and housing, Martin Luther King Jr. biography, Jesse Jackson '88 Exploratory Committee information kit
Dates
1987 October 10-23, undated
Box 5
Folder 1
Title
Community, Stadium Proposal- "A Draft Commentary on the Proposed Westside Stadium Site and Issues Faced by Local Community Residents, City Administration, the Private Development Sector and the Black Middle Class"
Dates
1987 May-June
Box 5
Folder 2
Title
Community, Stadium Proposal- News clippings, meeting notes, summaries re: West side redevelopment/stadium proposal
Dates
1987 May-September
Box 5
Folder 3
Title
Publications- 44th Ward News, "Promises Made—Promises Kept: Alderman Hansen's First Five Months in Office"
Dates
1983 August-September
Box 5
Folder 4
Title
Publications- Chicago Assyrian, "A Man Who Dared to be Different: The Only Mayor Who Heeded Assyrian Concerns"
Dates
1987 December
Box 5
Folder 5
Title
Publications- Chicago Metro News, "In Memory of Mayor Harold Washington, 1922-1987"
Dates
1987 December 5
Box 5
Folder 6
Title
Publications- Chicago Reader, "The Blacks and the Browns" by Gary Rivlin
Dates
undated
Box 5
Folder 7
Title
Publications- Chicago Times, "A Good Politician – Period" by Eugene Kennedy
Dates
1987 September-October
Box 5
Folder 8
Title
Publications- Chicago: Working Better Than Ever—For Everyone
Dates
[1987]
Box 5
Folder 9
Title
Publications- Chicago Works Together Planning Taskforce, Chicago Works Together II: Recommended Changes to the 1984 Chicago Development Plan
Dates
1987 August
Box 5
Folder 10
Title
Publications- Health, Department of,  Cookbook of Sober Drinks and Other "Smart" Ideas
Dates
1986
Box 5
Folder 11
Title
Publications- Housing, Department of, A Citizen's Guide to the Department of Housing
Dates
undated
Box 5
Folder 12
Title
Publications- Illinois Issues, "Washington at Midterm: A look at the Record"
Dates
1985 January
Box 5
Folder 13
Title
Publications- Illinois Issues, "Community Organizing: Alinsky's Legacy"
Dates
1988 January-February
Box 5
Folder 14
Title
Publications- Mayor's Office of Inquiry and Information, "Updated Material for your City of Chicago Municipal Handbook"
Dates
1987 July 30
Box 5
Folder 15
Title
Publications- Neighborhood Works, "Mayoral Plans Chart Different Futures for City"
Dates
1984 September
Box 5
Folder 16
Title
Publications- News clippings, Midterm election
Dates
1985 April
Box 5
Folder 17
Title
Publications- News clippings, "Community and Ethnic Press Clippings 2 of 6, Black Press"
Dates
1987 December 17-24
Box 5
Folder 18
Title
Publications- Newsletter, Office of the Mayor, "Letter from City Hall"
Dates
1985 April-1987 January
Box 5
Folder 19
Title
Publications- Research and Issues Committee, "Washington for Mayor Campaign, The Washington Papers: A Commitment to Chicago. A Commitment to You, Committee to Elect Harold Washington Mayor of Chicago"
Dates
[1983]
Box 5
Folder 20
Title
Publications- University of Illinois at Chicago and the League of Women Voters, Blueprint of Chicago Government: A Study for Mayor Harold Washington by the Agency Review Unit of the Transition Team
Dates
1983 May