Historical Note

In 1958 the Woodlawn Block Club Council (WBCC) was formed , "to discuss, organize and set up standards for the block clubs. . ." of the Woodlawn neighborhood and, "to represent the community of Woodlawn in the development and implementation of a program to improve the community, through conservation and other related activities."  Its membership was comprised of the presidents and two delegates from each of Woodlawn’s numerous block clubs.  One of the WBCC’s principal activities was its participation in Chicago’s conservation program.  This program attempted to spare Woodlawn from the sprawl of urban blight.

Meeting the fourth Friday of each month, the WBCC concerned itself with current neighborhood issues and attempted to disseminate information throughout the Woodlawn community.  The WBCC’s activities are chronicled in records containing its constitution and by-laws, correspondence, minutes of meetings, membership rosters and publicity materials dealing with its community betterment projects.

Scope and Content 

The Woodlawn Block Club Council, Inc. Records are arranged into two series. 

Series I:  Administrative Records, 1958 - 1960
This series contains the WBCC’s constitution and by-laws, an extensive correspondence file and a roster of the WBCC’s member organizations.  The correspondence file is complete from 1958 to 1960.  This series is arranged alphabetically by folder subject title and chronologically within each folder.

Series II: Publicity Files, 1958 - 1959
The WBCC’s publicity files contain fliers, handouts, newsclippings, press releases and other related materials.  The material in this series is arranged chronologically.

Provenance

Originally part of the Historical Society of Woodlawn’s collection, the WBCC papers were processed between July and October 1984 and transferred to the Special Collections Division of the Chicago Public Library for proper archival storage.  A grant provided the necessary funding for this project.

Access 

The Woodlawn Block Club Council, Inc. records are available to the public for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room on the 9th floor of the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60605. The collection does not circulate, although photocopy and photoreproduction services are available depending upon the condition of the original materials. First time patrons to Special Collections must present photo identification and complete a Reader Registration Form. Telephone inquiries on this collection and other Special Collections holdings can be directed to 312-747-4875.

Selected photocopies and duplicate materials are available at the Woodlawn Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Box and Folder Inventory

BOX 1

Series I: Administrative Records
1.  Constitution and By-Laws: July 1958.
2.  Correspondence Files: July-Sept. 1958.
3.  Correspondence Files: Oct.-Dec. 1958.
4.  Correspondence Files: Jan.-March 1959.
5.  Correspondence Files: May-Sept. 1959.
6.  Correspondence Files: Oct.-Dec. 1950.
7.  Correspondence Files Feb. 1960.
8.  Member Organizations: ca. 1958.

Series II: Publicity Files
9.    Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Jan-June 1958.
10.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Jan.-July 1958.
11.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: July-Aug. 1958.
12.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Sept.-Oct. 1958.
13.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Nov. 1958.
14.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Nov. 1958.
15.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Dec. 1958.
16.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Jan.-Dec. 1959.
17.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Jan.-Dec. 1959.
18.  Handouts, Fliers, Press Releases, and Newsclippings: Jan.-Dec. 1959.