| Dates: | 1968-2003 |
| Size: | 1 linear foot |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature, 9525 S. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628 |
|
Collection Number: |
2003/01 |
| Provenance: | Donated by Dr. John Hayes and Garnett Collins, March 2003 |
| Access: | No restrictions |
| Citation: |
When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Washington Heights Civic Organization Archives, [Box #, Folder #], Chicago Public Library, Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature |
| Processed by: | Beverly Cook, Archivist, April 2021 |
Historical Note
Washington Heights Civic Organization (WHCO) was a member of the Organizations for the Southwest Communities areas. It was organized in 1966 to serve residents in southern part of the Washington Heights neighborhood. This organization does not include the northern half of the area designated Washington Heights because the Dan Ryan expressway became the unofficial barrier between the white and African American communities.
John Hayes was one of the fifteen residents who helped form the WHCO. In October 1968 Ralston Reid Hayes, Chicago Public Schools teacher, became the first WHCO president.
WHCO revamped its constitution and bylaws and elected a ten-member executive board which included 4 vice presidents. Some of the issues it fought was the overcrowding of schools like Fernwood Elementary School, adequate streetlights and traffic signs and to campaign for more businesses to replace those that had left the community. They held annual fundraisers like the Fall Extravaganza to raise monies for the school fiscal year and to stimulate community spirit and support.
Scope and Content
These files contain newsletters, correspondence, legal documents and the organization’s constitution and by-laws. They also contain files on the community’s fight with the Chicago Board of Education to name a new area school after Marcus Garvey. During construction and its first year, this school was known as “the school at 103rd and Morgan,” and unofficially, “the No Name School.” By March 1974, it officially became the Marcus Garvey Elementary School.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 4 series: Administrative Records, Organizations, Marcus Garvey School and Newspaper Clippings. All 4 series are in chronological order.
Series 1: Administrative Records, 1967-1977
This series contain the administrative records of the Washington Heights Civic Organization. It is in chronological order.
Series 2: Other Organizations, 1968-1984
This series contains three sub-series: Organizations, Chicago Board of Education and the City of Chicago. It is in chronological order.
Series 3: Marcus Garvey School, 1968-1985
This series contain the community’s effort to get the school built and named. It is in chronological order.
Series 4: Newspaper Clippings, 1968-2003, undated
It is arranged in chronological order.
Related Materials
Related materials at the Chicago Public Library include:
- Calumet Pioneer Historical Society Records
- Calumet Region Community Collection
- Morgan Park Co-op Credit Union Archives
Container List
Series 1: Administrative Records, 1967-1977
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Request for stoplight at 101st and Halsted, 1967 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Washington Heights Community Organization (WHCO) files, 1968 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | WHCO files, 1969 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | WHCO files, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | WHCO files, 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Washington Heights Community Organization by-laws, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | WHCO membership list, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | WHCO membership list, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | WHCO membership ledger and committees, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | WHCO contributors list, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Picketing of construction site at 10054 S. Carpenter, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Greater Roseland Organization Health Fair, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Brothers Enterprises request for zoning approval, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Organization for the Southwest Communities (OSC), 1969-1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Washington Heights Citizens Patrol, 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Crosstown expressway correspondence, 1977 |
Series 2: Other Organizations, 1968-1984
Sub-series 1: Organizations, 1968-1970
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Southsiders’ Investment Club, 1968 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | MUCH-Musikanton Company complaint, 1970 |
Sub-series 2: Chicago Board of Education, 1970-1984, undated
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Recommendations of Committee to study board procedures, Board of Education, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Chicago Board of Education plan to integrate school facilities, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Citizens Information Service of Illinois/Board of Education, 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Fernwood School Education Council, 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Concerned Parents of Fernwood, 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Fenger and Harlan High School education councils, 1971-1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Guidelines for Principle Nominating Committee, 1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Notes on “Supervision for Better School,” Kimball Wiles, circa 1975 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | District 18 Education Council, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Fragment, schools evaluation questionnaire, undated |
Sub-series 3: City of Chicago, 1974-1975
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Chicago Housing Authority application to HUD for federal assistance, circa 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Community Development Plan, 1975 |
Series 3: Marcus Garvey School, 1968-1985
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1968 |
| Box 1 | Folder 32 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1969 |
| Box 1 | Folder 33 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 34 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1972 |
| Box 1 | Folder 35 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 36 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 37 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 38 | Marcus Garvey school dedication, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 39 | Marcus Garvey school information, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 40 | Principle selection committee, Marcus Garvey, 1984 |
| Box 1 | Folder 41 | Principle selection committee report, circa 1984-1985 |
Series 4: Newspaper Clippings, 1968-2003, undated
| Box 1 | Folder 42 | Newspaper clippings, 1968 |
| Box 1 | Folder 43 | Newspaper clippings, 1969 |
| Box 1 | Folder 44 | Newspaper clippings, 1970 |
| Box 1 | Folder 45 | Newspaper clippings, 1971 |
| Box 1 | Folder 46 | Newspaper clippings, 1973 |
| Box 1 | Folder 47 | Newspaper clippings, 1974 |
| Box 1 | Folder 48 | Newspaper clippings, 2003 |
| Box 1 | Folder 49 | Newspaper clippings, undated |
