| Dates: | 1970s-1990 |
| Size: | 2.25 linear feet in 6 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | spe.a00040 |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | The collection was donated by Helen Shiller in 2013. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. 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. |
| 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: Justice Graphics, Inc. Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Johanna Russ, 2013 November. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Johanna Russ, 2021. |
Abstract
Keep Strong Publishing began in 1975 in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. It was started by progressive community activists Walter “Slim” Coleman, Helen Shiller and others, and soon changed its name to Justice Graphics, Inc. This collection consists of Justice Graphics Inc.’s files about Harold Washington and other related politicians. Of note is a series related to Washington's 1985 trip to Israel and Italy, accompanied by Shiller, acting as photographer.
Biographical/Historical
Keep Strong Publishing began in 1975 in the Uptown neighborhood on Chicago’s northeast side. It was started by progressive community activists Walter “Slim” Coleman, Helen Shiller, and others. It soon changed its name to Justice Graphics, Inc. The print shop produced periodicals such as Keep Strong Magazine and All Chicago City News, both of which Shiller edited. It also printed campaign literature and posters for progressive candidates around the city, as well as informational fliers and posters for events related to progressive causes and politicians.
In July 1985, Shiller traveled to Israel and Italy with Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, acting as his photographer. At the invitation of Chicago’s Jewish Federation, Mayor Washington led an official delegation on a six-day tour of Israel. While there, he met with a number of officials, including the mayors of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. At the end of the trip, the group spent two days in Italy, attending a papal audience and meeting with the mayors of Milan, Genoa, Bologna, Rome, and Palermo.
In 1987, with Harold Washington’s support, Shiller ran a successful race for alderman of Chicago’s 46th Ward, which includes the Uptown neighborhood. She served for six terms, from 1987 to 2011, the longest-serving female alderman as of 2016. Her career was marked by a commitment to progressive causes, notably affordable housing and police accountability. Justice Graphics, Inc., closed in 1998.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of Justice Graphics Inc.’s files about Harold Washington and other related politicians. It includes photographs, photographic negatives, photographic contact sheets, posters, bumper stickers, fliers, itineraries, and publications.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in three series, Series 1: Harold Washington’s trip to Israel, 1985 July; Series 2: Justice Graphics, Inc., Harold Washington Photograph Archive, 1970s-1990; and Series 3: Printed Campaign Material, 1980s, undated.
Related Materials
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Mayoral Campaign Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Pre-Mayoral Photograph Collection
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Asian American Advisory Committee Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Central Files Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Chief of Staff Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, City Council Proceedings Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Community Services Sub-Cabinet Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Development Sub-Cabinet Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Finance and Administration Sub-Cabinet Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Infrastructure Sub-Cabinet Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Legislative Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Photographs
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Press Office Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Mayoral Records. Public Safety/Regulatory Sub-Cabinet Records
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Videocassette Collection
- Harold Washington Archives & Collections, Political Education Project Records
- Eugene Sawyer Mayoral Records
- Steve Askin Papers
- The Municipal Reference Library on the 5th floor of Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center holds a run of Keep Strong Magazine, published by Justice Graphics, Inc., 1975-1980; 1987.
Subject Headings
- Israel
- Shiller, Helen
- Washington, Harold, 1922-1987
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Harold Washington’s trip to Israel, 1985 July
Scope and Contents
Included in this series is background reading material on Israel, itineraries for the trip, and a small pamphlet published by Justice Graphics after the trip, written and featuring photos by Helen Shiller. Also appearing in this series are hundreds of photographic contact sheets and negatives for images provided by Helen Shiller from the archives of Justice Graphics.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Background binder for Israel trip (1 of 2), 1985 July 10-16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Background binder for Israel trip (2 of 2), 1985 July 10-16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Background reading on Israel (1 of 3), circa 1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Background reading on Israel (2 of 3), circa 1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Background reading on Israel (3 of 3), circa 1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Israel trip contact sheets (1 of 2), 1985 July 10-16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Israel trip contact sheets (2 of 2), 1985 July 10-16 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Israel trip itineraries, notes and business cards, 1985 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Pamphlet, “Mayor Harold Washington’s Six Day Visit to Israel,” with photos and text by Helen Shiller, 1985 July 10-16 |
| Box 2 | 54 folders of photographic negatives from the Israel trip, 1985 July 10-16 |
Series 2: Justice Graphics, Inc., Harold Washington Photograph Archive, 1970s-1990
Scope and Contents
This series is comprised of hundreds of photographic prints of Harold Washington and related events and people kept by Justice Graphics, Inc. The photos are arranged alphabetically, according to original categories assigned by Justice Graphics, and include images sent from the mayor’s press office.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically.
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Favorite Son slates for 1984 Democratic Convention, 1984 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Good Health Place, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | HS Sanctions Resolution [folder titled by Justice Graphics employees], 1990 February |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Mayor’s Press Office, 1985-1986 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Mayor’s Press Office: Budget hearings, 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Mayor’s Press Office: Politics, 1985-1986 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Mayor’s Press Office: “South Shore Country Club” [folder titled by Justice Graphics employees], 1985 March 3 |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | Mayor’s Press Office: Speaks [speaking engagements], 1986 |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | Mayor’s Press Office: With the people, 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | Mayor’s Press Office: With reformers, circa 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | Mayor’s Press Office: Women’s Commission, 1986 |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | Mayoral Appointees, circa 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 13 | North west side, circa 1985 |
| Box 3 | Folder 14 | People Organized for Welfare and Employment Rights (P.O.W.E.R.), 1982 Summer |
| Box 3 | Folder 15 | Politics (1 of 2), 1982, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 16 | Politics (2 of 2), undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 17 | Pre-Mayoral, 1977-1983, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 18 | Publicity shots, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 19 | Rallies, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 20 | REAL Democrats, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 21 | Remap, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 22 | Right to Service forums, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Solo shots, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | South Africa protests, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Southwest Community Congress, circa 1984 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Speaks [speaking engagements] (1 of 2), circa 1985 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Speaks [speaking engagements] (2 of 2), circa 1985 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | With the people (1 of 2), 1983, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | With the people (2 of 2), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | With politicians, department heads (1 of 2), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | With politicians, department heads (2 of 2), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | With reformers, circa 1985 |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Unidentified (2 of 2), undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | Unidentified (1 of 2), undated |
Series 3: Printed Campaign Material, 1980s, undated
Scope and Contents
This series consists of posters, fliers, and other pieces of literature from the campaigns and events of various Chicago politicians, including Harold Washington, printed by Justice Graphics, Inc.
Arrangement
Files are arranged alphabetically.
| Box 5 | Folder 1 | Various events, programs, and literature, 1986-1988, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 2 | Ward newspapers (7, 17, 49), 1986-1987 |
| Box 5 | Folder 3 | Butler, Jerry campaign literature, circa 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 4 | Chevere, Gloria campaign literature, circa 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 5 | Davis, Monique campaign literature, 1986 |
| Box 5 | Folder 6 | Evans, Timothy campaign literature, circa 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 7 | Gutierrez, Luis campaign literature, 1987-1988, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 8 | Hayes, Charles campaign literature, 1986 |
| Box 5 | Folder 9 | Jackson, Jesse campaign literature, 1988 |
| Box 5 | Folder 10 | Kelly, Charles (Chuck) campaign literature, circa 1988 |
| Box 5 | Folder 11 | Mallette, Mercedes campaign literature, circa 1986 |
| Box 5 | Folder 12 | Miller, Jesse campaign literature, circa 1985 |
| Box 5 | Folder 13 | Rico, Emma Lozano campaign literature, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 14 | Shiller, Helen campaign literature, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 15 | Siegel, Paul campaign literature, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 16 | Tillman, Dorothy campaign literature, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 17 | Velazquez, Juan campaign literature, undated |
| Box 5 | Folder 18 | Washington, Harold campaign literature, 1983-1986 |
| Box 5 | Folder 19 | Waterhouse, Paul campaign literature, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 1 | Campaign literature print proofs, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 2 | Campaign posters: Marlene Carter, Timothy Evans, Raymond Figueroa, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 3 | Campaign posters: Luis Gutierrez, Charles Kelly, Helen Shiller, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 4 | Campaign posters: Harold Washington, 1980s |
| Box 6 | Folder 5 | Posters: general publication ads and events, undated |
| Box 6 | Folder 6 | Photographs (4 unidentified oversized prints), undated |
