Remembering Richard J. Daley

Richard J. Daley collection

The Richard J. Daley Collection is part of the Daley family collections housed at the Special Collections and University Archives at University of Illinois Chicago. It contains papers generated and received during Daley’s six terms as mayor of Chicago and during his role as chairman of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee. Included are documents that passed through his private inner office on the 5th floor of city hall and at the Democratic Party headquarters across the street.

The collection also holds papers and ephemera from Richard J. Daley’s family life, awards and commemorative plaques, inscribed books from his personal library, and memorabilia from his campaigns for state representative, state senator, county sheriff, county clerk, and mayor. His life and career are documented in 7,000 photographs that portray everyday as well as historic events, his relationships with political figures and celebrities, and the dynamic and changing city of Chicago.

See the Daley Family collections research guide

These papers came to the University of Illinois Chicago at the behest of Eleanor “Sis” Daley, Richard J. Daley’s wife of 40 years. Eleanor Daley decided to make them available for research at the institution whose creation Daley considered one of his great achievements. The Special Collections and University Archives Department at UIC is pleased to make the Richard J. Daley Collection available to the public for study and research.

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