Citizens Association of Chicago Records
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
-
University of Illinois at Chicago,
801 S. MorganChicago, ILUSA
- Repository Number
- MSCAC66
- Creator
- Citizens' Association of Chicago.
- Title
- Citizens Association of Chicago Records,
- Dates
- 1874-1954
- Quantity
- 2.0 linear feet.
- Abstract
- The Citizens' Association of Chicago was founded in 1874 in order to ensure what its members believed to be honest and cost-effective governance in the city. The collection consists of annual reports, by-laws, committee reports, speeches and bulletins pertaining to fire protection, municipal elections, and the administration of public funds by the Treasurer of Cook County, Illinois.
- Language of the Material
- English
Administrative Information
Biography/Profile
The Citizens' Association of Chicago was founded in 1874, following a second great Chicago fire that swept through the heart of the city. Desperate for adequate fire protection, citizens organized the association with this purpose: "to insure a more perfect administration in our Municipal affairs; to promote the general welfare and prosperity of the City; to protect citizens so far as possible, against the evils of careless and corrupt legislation; to effect the prompt enforcement and execution of the law; to correct existing abuses, and to prevent their recurrence."
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The first work of the organization was to secure Chicago against further disaster from fire. The Association engaged engineers and with their aid, laid the foundations of the water system and fire department of present day Chicago.
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The organization turned its efforts toward cleansing the city politically. Beginning in 1875, the Citizens' Action Committee conducted reform campaigns against ballot-stuffing, for a pure water supply, and for the construction of a drainage canal. It uncovered corruption on the County Board, fought for civil service reform, and was instrumental in organizing and launching the Civil Service Reform Association of Chicago.
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In 1901, the Association created the Legislative Voter's League to secure what it thought would be better representation for Cook County in the state legislature. The Association also turned its efforts toward exposing graft in the Sanitary Bureau of the Chicago Health Department and to the Chicago Police Department.
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In 1906, the Association campaigned to halt corruption in the county fee offices. A clerk of the Circuit Court and a Clerk of the Superior Court were sent to the penitentiary and thousands of taxpayer dollars were recovered. In the county jail, the sheriff was found to be making a large illegal profit from "dieting" the prisoners, and this abuse was terminated. There followed an active campaign throughout the state to call a Constitutional Convention. The goals of this campaign included a shorter ballot, tax reform, abolition of cumulative voting for legislators, consolidation of taxing bodies, and adequate charter powers for the city.
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In 1919, the Association won legislation from the Illinois General Assembly that required the Treasurer of Cook County to account for and pay into the county treasury all interest earned on public monies in his keeping.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of annual reports, by-laws, committee reports, speeches and bulletins pertaining to fire protection, municipal elections, and the administration of public funds by the Treasurer of Cook County, Illinois.
Access Restrictions
Access restrictions -- Available without restriction.
Use/Re-use Restrictions
Use restrictions -- Available without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Citizens Association of Chicago Records, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago
Indexed Terms
Inventory
- Title
- Annual Report: Report on Investigation of County Fee offices
- Dates
- 1906
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1878
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1879
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1882
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1884
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1885
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1887
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1889
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1890
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1891
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1892
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1893
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1894
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1895
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1896
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1897
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1898
- Title
- Annual Report
- Dates
- Oct, 1899
- Title
- Annual Report #31
- Dates
- Oct, 1905
- Title
- Annual Report #33
- Dates
- Oct, 1907
- Title
- Annual Report #34
- Dates
- Oct, 1908
- Title
- Annual Report #41
- Dates
- Oct, 1915
- Title
- Annual Report #42
- Dates
- Oct, 1916
- Title
- Annual Report #43
- Dates
- Oct, 1917
- Title
- Annual Report #44
- Dates
- Oct, 1918
- Title
- Annual Report #45
- Dates
- Oct, 1919
- Title
- Annual Report #46
- Dates
- Oct, 1920
- Title
- Annual Report #47
- Dates
- Oct, 1921
- Title
- Annual Report #48
- Dates
- Dec, 1922
- Title
- Annual Report #49
- Dates
- Oct, 1923
- Title
- Annual Report #50
- Dates
- Nov, 1924
- Title
- Annual Report #52
- Dates
- Dec, 1926
- Title
- Annual Report #53
- Dates
- Dec, 1927
- Title
- Annual Report #54
- Dates
- Dec, 1928
- Title
- Annual Report #55
- Dates
- Dec, 1929
- Title
- Annual Report #56
- Dates
- Dec, 1930
- Title
- Annual Report #58
- Dates
- Dec, 1932
- Title
- Annual Report #59
- Dates
- Dec, 1933
- Title
- Annual Report #60
- Dates
- Dec, 1934
- Title
- Annual Report #61
- Dates
- Dec, 1935
- Title
- Annual Report #62
- Dates
- Jan, 1937
- Title
- Annual Report #63
- Dates
- Jan, 1938
- Title
- [Bound] Annual Reports and Addresses
- Dates
- 1874 - ca. 1899
- Title
- [Bound] Annual Reports and Bulletins
- Dates
- 1901-1916
- Title
- [Bound] Annual Reports and Bulletins
- Dates
- 1917-1918
- Title
- [Bound] Annual Reports and Bulletins
- Dates
- 1929-1937
- Title
- Bulletins #2
- Dates
- Jan 3, 1900
- Title
- Bulletins #5
- Dates
- Dec 10, 1901
- Title
- Bulletin #7
- Dates
- Jan 21, 1902
- Title
- Bulletin #8
- Dates
- Jun 23, 1902
- Title
- Bulletin #9, "[Cook County Court]"
- Dates
- Feb 11, 1903
- Title
- Bulletin #10
- Dates
- Jul 28, 1903
- Title
- Bulletin #12
- Dates
- Jan 12, 1904
- Title
- Bulletin #13
- Dates
- Jun 10, 1904
- Title
- Bulletin #14
- Dates
- May 24, 1905
- Title
- Bulletin #15
- Dates
- Jan 15, 1906
- Title
- Bulletin #16
- Dates
- Feb 6, 1906
- Title
- Bulletin #17
- Dates
- Sept 27, 1906
- Title
- Bulletin #18
- Dates
- Mar 20, 1907
- Title
- Bulletin #19
- Dates
- Jun 27, 1908
- Title
- Bulletin #20
- Dates
- 1908
- Title
- Bulletin #21
- Dates
- 1909
- Title
- Bulletin #22
- Dates
- Jun 11, 1909
- Title
- Bulletin #23
- Dates
- Nov 15, 1909
- Title
- Bulletin #24
- Dates
- Dec 15, 1909
- Title
- Bulletin #25
- Dates
- Jun 15, 1910
- Title
- Bulletin #26
- Dates
- Jan 27, 1911
- Title
- Bulletin #27
- Dates
- May 29, 1912
- Title
- Bulletin #28
- Dates
- Jun 1, 1912
- Title
- Bulletin #29
- Dates
- May 12, 1913
- Title
- Bulletin #30
- Dates
- Dec 3, 1913
- Title
- Bulletin #31 "Why A Constitutional Convention is Unavoidable"
- Dates
- Jan 24, 1914
- Title
- Bulletin #32
- Dates
- May 10, 1915
- Title
- Bulletin #33 "Success in The Legislative Injunction Suits"
- Dates
- Sept 9, 1915
- Title
- Bulletin #34 "Results of the Legislative Injunction Suits"
- Dates
- Jan 6, 1916
- Title
- Bulletin #35 "The Police Investigation"
- Dates
- Jan 20, 1917
- Title
- Bulletin #36 "The Administrative Code Bill"
- Dates
- Feb 12, 1917
- Title
- Bulletin #37 "Constitutional Convention Resolution Wins"
- Dates
- Mar 20, 1917
- Title
- Bulletin #38 "Racetrack Gambling Nipped In The Bud"
- Dates
- July 25, 1917
- Title
- Bulletin #39 "The Proposed Special Session"
- Dates
- Jan 21, 1918
- Title
- Bulletin #40 "Convention Campaign Opens"
- Dates
- Apr 15, 1918
- Title
- Bulletin #41 "Manner of Choosing Convention Delegats"
- Dates
- Dec 6, 1918
- Title
- Bulletin #42 "Selection of Convention Delegats"
- Dates
- Jan 14, 1919
- Title
- Bulletin #43 "The New State Deposits Act"
- Dates
- July 1, 1919
- Title
- Bulletin #44
- Dates
- Oct 30, 1919
- Title
- Bulletin #45
- Dates
- Nov 24, 1919
- Title
- Bulletin #46 "County Interests Earnings Increased by New Law"
- Dates
- Jan 27, 1920
- Title
- Bulletin #47 "Help to Abolish the Cumulative Voting System"
- Dates
- Jan 28, 1920
- Title
- Bulletin #48
- Dates
- Apr 6, 1920
- Title
- Bulletin #49 "Cook Countys' Legislative Representation"
- Dates
- Jun 30, 1920
- Title
- Bulletin #50 "The Proposed $8,000,000 Bond Issue"
- Dates
- Feb 15, 1921
- Title
- Bulletin #51 "Prompt Payment of State Moneys"
- Dates
- Apr 30, 1921
- Title
- Bulletin #52 "Vasts payment of City Experts"
- Dates
- May 27, 1921
- Title
- Bulletin #53 "Taxpayers Injunction Suits"
- Dates
- Sept 20, 1921
- Title
- Bulletin #54 "Need of a Short Ballot"
- Dates
- Apr 22, 1922
- Title
- Bulletin #55 "Unification of Cook County Courts"
- Dates
- May 20, 1922
- Title
- Bulletin #56 "Fire Department Conditions"
- Dates
- May 20, 1922
- Title
- Bulletin #57 "Ratify the New Constitution"
- Dates
- Sept 27, 1922
- Title
- Bulletin #58 "Lighting Extension Contracts Abandoned"
- Dates
- Mar 1, 1923
- Title
- Bulletin #59 "The Small $100,000,000 Bond Plan"
- Dates
- Apr 24, 1923
- Title
- Bulletin #60 "Light on the City Lighting Department"
- Dates
- Jun 15, 1923
- Title
- Bulletin #61 "Fire Department Needs"
- Dates
- Jan 10, 1924
- Title
- Bulletin #62 "Police Pension Affairs"
- Dates
- Jun 21, 1924
- Title
- Bulletin #63 "Little Ballot Proposals"
- Dates
- Oct 30, 1924
- Title
- Bulletin #64 "County Board Salary Increase"
- Dates
- Dec 18, 1924
- Title
- Bulletin #65 "The Traction Ordinance"
- Dates
- Mar 31, 1925
- Title
- Bulletin #66 "Public Pension Measures"
- Dates
- Apr 30, 1925
- Title
- Bulletin #67 "Vote Fraud Prosecutions"
- Dates
- Dec 18, 1925
- Title
- Bulletin #68
- Dates
- Mar 9, 1926
- Title
- Bulletin #69 "Forest Preserve Purchases"
- Dates
- Sept 30, 1926
- Title
- Bulletin #70 "The Public Pension Situation"
- Dates
- Nov 27, 1926
- Title
- Bulletin #72 "Action Against Vote Fraud"
- Dates
- Sept 29, 1927
- Title
- Bulletin #73 "County Board Requested to Act"
- Dates
- Nov 7, 1927
- Title
- Bulletin #74 "Defeats all Bond Proposals"
- Dates
- Apr 6, 1928
- Title
- Bulletin #75 "New Election Law Needed"
- Dates
- May 15, 1928
- Title
- Bulletin #76 "The $20,000,000 Bond Issue"
- Dates
- Sept 24, 1928
- Title
- Bulletin #77
- Dates
- Jan 18, 1929
- Title
- Bulletin #78
- Dates
- Feb 25, 1929
- Title
- Bulletin #79 "Bills that’s Deserve Support"
- Dates
- May 4, 1929
- Title
- Bulletin #80 "The Pending Bond Proposals"
- Dates
- Oct 31, 1929
- Title
- Bulletin #81 "The City Bond Proposals"
- Dates
- Apr 4, 1930
- Title
- Bulletin #82 "Supports the Traction Ordinance"
- Dates
- Jun 14, 1930
- Title
- Bulletin #83 "Proposed Bond Issues"
- Dates
- Oct 27, 1930
- Title
- Bulletin #84 "Constitutional Conventions in needed"
- Dates
- Mar 14, 1931
- Title
- Bulletin #85 "Recent Forest Preserve Land Purchases"
- Dates
- Mar 20, 1931
- Title
- Bulletin #86 "How Chicago Elections are Stolen"
- Dates
- May 9, 1931
- Title
- Bulletin #87 "The Lighting Extension Contracts Waste"
- Dates
- Nov 14, 1931
- Title
- Bulletin #88 "Action in Lighting Contract Inquiry"
- Dates
- Feb 4, 1932
- Title
- Bulletin #89 "The Proposed State Housing Act"
- Dates
- Sept 22, 1932
- Title
- Bulletin #90 "Free The Bench From Politics"
- Dates
- May 29, 1933
- Title
- Bulletin #91 "The School Fund Lease Crisis"
- Dates
- Oct 17, 1933
- Title
- Bulletin #92 "Police Pensions Fund Investigation"
- Dates
- Aug 30, 1934
- Title
- Bulletin #93 "Vote on These Important Proposals"
- Dates
- Oct 24, 1934
- Title
- Bulletin #93 "No Permanent Fair on Park Lands"
- Dates
- Apr 24, 1935
- Title
- Bulletin #94 "Governor Votes Handbook Bell"
- Dates
- July 20, 1935
- Title
- Bulletin #95 "Filtration and metering of Chicago's Water Supply
- Dates
- Sept 15, 1936
- Title
- Bulletin #96 "No Parole Emergency Exists"
- Dates
- Apr 15, 1937
- Title
- Bulletin #97 "Whats is Holding up the New Building Code?"
- Dates
- May 18, 1937
- Title
- Bulletin #98 "Should The Parole System be Abolish?"
- Dates
- May 10, 1938
- Title
- "City Finances and Constitutional Amendments"
- Dates
- Jan, 1896
- Title
- "Address and Reports"
- Dates
- 1874-1876
- Title
- "Constitutional Convention and other Legislations,"
- Dates
- 1895
- Title
- "Constitution and By Lawes"
- Dates
- 1891
- Title
- "Committee Lists"
- Dates
- 1889
- Title
- "Digest of the Civil Service Law Decision and Statements of the Origin of The Litigation"
- Dates
- 1898
- Title
- "Facts about Its Work During Half a Century"
- Dates
- 1927
- Title
- "In Memoriam-Francis Bolles Peabody"
- Dates
- Jan 24, 1908
- Title
- "Manual"
- Dates
- 1890
- Title
- "Primary Election Law Pointers"
- Dates
- Apr 11, 1916
- Title
- "Manner of Choosing Delegates To The Illinois Constitutional Convention"
- Dates
- Jan 1919
- Title
- "Open Letter: Henry C. Rew to the Citizens Association of Chicago and The Answer"
- Dates
- 1882
- Title
- "Report of The Committee on Taxation"
- Dates
- 1874
- Title
- "The Main Drainage Committee"
- Dates
- 1880
- Title
- "A Report of the Seweage Committee"
- Dates
- Oct 1880
- Title
- "Report of the Committee on-Drainage and Water Supply
- Dates
- May 25, 1887
- Title
- "Report of the Committee of the Citizens Association of Chicago on the Main Drainage and Water Supply
- Dates
- Sept 1885
- Title
- "Report of the Committee on Tenement Houses of the Citizens Association of Chicago"
- Dates
- Sept 1884
- Title
- "Why Illinois Must Have A Constitutional Convention"
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- "Reasons Why It Deserves Your Support-Some of the Things It Has Done for the Taxpayers"
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- "Report of the North-West Water Tunnel,"
- Dates
- 1897
- Title
- "Louise Chandler Tributes (The Municipal Employees Society),"
- Dates
- 1945-1954
- Title
- " 'The Boulevard Link,' by George A. Mason"
- Dates
- 1919
- Title
- "Report to the Board of Local Improvements: The Work of M. J. Faherty Associates and Staff 1915-1923"
- Dates
- undated
- Title
- "Hiram J. Jones, Supt. Special Assessments - photograph"
- Dates
- 1897
- Title
- "Buildings - Chicago Loop Area - photograph"
- Dates
- undated