Harold L. Washington
42nd Mayor of Chicago

Party:
Democrat

Elected:

1st term:
February 22, 1983 (primary)
Defeated Jane M. Byrne, Richard M. Daley, Sheila Jones, William R. Markowski and Frank R. Ranallo

April 12, 1983 (general)
Defeated Bernard E. Epton (Republican) and Ed Warren (Socialist Workers)

2nd term:
February 24, 1987 (primary)
Defeated Jane M. Byrne and Sheila Jones

April 7, 1987 (general)
Defeated Donald H. Haider (Republican) and Edward R. Vrdolyak (Illinois Solidarity)

Inaugurations:
1st term: April 29, 1983: Inaugural Address
2nd term: May 4, 1987: Inaugural Address
 
Terms of office:
1st term: 1983-1987
2nd term: 1987 (died in office)

Birth:
April 15, 1922
Chicago, IL

Personal:
1942 – Married Nancy Dorothy Finch
1942 – Began serving in United States Air Force Engineers
1949 – Graduated Roosevelt University
1952 – Graduated Northwestern University School of Law
1965 – Elected to Illinois House of Representatives, served 11 years
1977 – Served 3 years in Illinois State Senate
1981 – Served 2 years in U.S. Congress
1983 – Elected Chicago’s first African American mayor
At time of death, was engaged to marry Mary Ella Smith

Death:
November 25, 1987
Chicago, IL

Gravesite:
Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago

Sources:
Dodge, Andrew R. and Betty K. Koed, editors. Biographical directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 : the Continental Congress, September 5, 1774, to October 21, 1788, and the Congress of the United States, from the First through the One Hundred Eighth Congresses, March 4, 1789, to January 3, 2005, inclusive. Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 2005.
Grossman, James R., Ann Durkin Keating, and Janice L. Reiff, editors. Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Chicago Tribune, Nov. 16, 1986, pg. H12+.

___________
To find out more about Harold Washington, visit the Harold Washington Archives & Collections Department located at CPL's main library, the Harold Washington Library Center.