| Dates: | 1972-1976 |
| Size: | 0.5 linear feet in 1 box |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | c00091 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Sarah Barrash Wilson donated the collection in 2017. Sarah is Annette Medow Barrash’s daughter. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Annette Medow Barrash Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Roslyn Mabry, 2025. Ingested into ASpace, Johanna Russ, 2026. |
Abstract
The Annette Medow Barrash Papers contain documents, news clippings, and photographs related to the 1972 Miami Beach Democratic National Convention. Also included is information on the controversy over the selection of delegates from Chicago, referred to as the Chicago Credentials Challenge.
Biographical/Historical
Annette Medow was born in 1923 on the West Side of Chicago, in the North Lawndale community. She attended Austin High School. After graduating, she studied Mathematics and Psychology at the University of Chicago. As an undergraduate, she contributed to the Manhattan Project by performing calculations and worked with Bruno Bettelheim at the Orthogenic School.
In 1945, she married Meyer Joseph Barrash, also from the West Side. After a brief teaching career, she dedicated herself to her family and raising six children. She remained active in community affairs, particularly advocating for improvements in Chicago Public School through the Chicago Citizens School Committee, and as a founding member of the South Shore Open House Committee.
From July 10 to 13, 1972, delegates gathered in Miami Beach, Florida, for the Democratic National Convention. Some controversy existed that year over the selection of delegates from Chicago. The Chicago delegates elected in the March primary, who were backed by Mayor Richard J. Daley’s Democratic Machine, were referred to as the “Daley 59.” Ultimately, however, the convention’s Credentials Committee awarded official seats to an alternate slate of delegates selected by independent Democrats led by Alderman Bill Singer and Rev. Jesse Jackson. The “Daley 59” were disqualified for violating new Democratic Party rules for delegate selection, which called for better representation of women, minorities, and young people. Annette Medow Barrish played a key role in the successful challenge to Mayor Daley’s slate of delegates in Miami, where she served as a delegate alongside Reverend Jackson, Alderman Singer and others.
Annette and Meyer lived on the South Side of Chicago until 1979, when they moved to Jo Daviess County in northwest Illinois. Annette continued her community involvement there and later in Dubuque, Iowa, where she resided from 1991 to 2006.
Scope and Contents
This collection chronicles the events surrounding the Chicago Credentials Challenge at the 1972 Democratic Convention held in Miami Beach, Florida. It includes records, newspaper articles, photographs, legal documents, and other materials related to the activities of Annette Medow Barrash, a participant in the Chicago Credentials Challenge.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged alphabetically by format.
Related Materials
- Democratic National Convention Records, 1965-1968
- Republican National Convention Records, 1958-1960
Subject Terms
- Medow, Annette, 1923-2019
- Democratic National Convention (1972: Miami, Fla.)
- Jackson, Jesse, 1941-
Collection Inventory
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Appendix, Temporary Roll of Delegates and Alternatives | 1972 July 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Article, “The Conspiracy Complex,” Dolores Cizek | 1972 June-August |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Article, Atlanta Monthly, “The Democrats’ Dilemma” by David S. Broder | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Badge [Honorary], Democratic National Convention, Miami Beach | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Booklet, Call for the 1972 Democratic National Convention | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Chicago Challenge, National Women’s Political Caucus Women’s Education For Delegate Selection | [1959] |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Chicago Credentials Challenger’s Rule of Procedure | 1972 June 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Correspondence, Chicago Credentials Challenge | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Correspondence, Delegate Legal Representation | 1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Correspondence, Dunn, Myrtle [Illinois Delegate Co-Secretary], Nina Sheppherd [Rules Committee] | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Correspondence, Leahy, Andrew | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Correspondence, McGovern, George, [back has handwritten tally for ‘California Challenge’] | 1972 July 10 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Correspondence, “The New Chicago Delegation,” [electoral process] | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Correspondence, Singer, William S., Former Chicago Alderman | 1972, 1973 December 4 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Correspondence, Thompson II, Ernest P. [Financial writer for Southwest Economist] | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Correspondence, Telegram [Western Union] from Jackson, Jesse L., and Wayne Whalen | 1972 June 22 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Correspondence [Notes], Whalen, Wayne | undated, 1972 August 12 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Court Proceedings, Judge Covelli | 1972 July-August |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Document, Resolution for Rules of the Democratic National Committee | [1972-1973] |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Document, Statement of Alleged Violations [Chicago Credentials] | 1972 June |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Editorial WBBM-TV, CBS (Channel 2), “Time for a Truce” | 1973 April 26 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Flyer, “Celebrate the seating of The New Chicago Delegation” | [1972] July 23 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Guide [Candidate] Democratic Primary Ballot | 1972 March 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Guidelines for Conducting Open Meetings [Delegate District Convention] | 1972 May 25 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Invitation to speak [Annette Barrash], Tri-City Human Relations Council | 1972 March |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Legal Document [Challenge Delegations], Wigoda, Paul vs. William Cousin | 1972; 1973; 1975 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | List of Challenged Delegates [Congressional District] | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Memorandum Briefing, [Lobbying] | undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Memorandum, Illinois Supreme Court | 1973 December 13 |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Memorandum, Statement of Challenge | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Nametag, New Delegate, Annette Barrish | [1972] |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | News clippings | 1972-1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | News clipping, Decatur Sunday Herald and Review, “Scrap That Quota System” | 1973 December 2 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | News clippings, Delegates Challengers | 1972-1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | News clippings, Various Chicago Newspapers | 1972 June; 1974 November 11; 1974 January 5-9; 1975 January 15 |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | Newspaper, Insert, by Mike Royko, “Jesse Jackson the Delegate; A Hard look at ‘Singer 59’” | 1972 July |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | Petition, Candidate [Challenger’s or Watcher’s Credential] for Nomination | 1972 March 21 |
| Box 1 | Folder 38 | Petition, Nomination [Annette M. Barrash] | 1972 January 12 |
| Box 1 | Folder 39 | Photographs, Convention Floor | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 40 | Program [Official] Thirty-Sixth Quadrennial National Nomination Convention | 1972 July 10-13 |
| Box 1 | Folder 41 | Questionnaire, [Convention Delegates Survey] | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 42 | Questionnaire, Democratic Delegate, Independent Voters of Illinois Endorsement | 1972 February 18; 1972 March 3 |
| Box 1 | Folder 43 | Statement of Alleged Violations | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 44 | Report of the Credentials Committee to the 1972 Democratic National Convention | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 45 | Tickets, Convention Seating Chart and Delegate Travel Information | 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 46 | Weekly, beth am reporter, [Also includes an invitation] | 1972 October 6; 1972 October 13 |