The city of Chicago has long been a haven for African American intellectuals, artists, and activists. This digital collection from the Chicago Public Library offers up bits of ephemera from the Chicago Renaissance that took place on the city's South Side from the early 1930s to the 1950s. Visitors will find almost two dozen items of interest here, including a self-portrait of Gordon Parks, images...

The National Urban League was founded in 1910, and it remains one of the oldest social service, research, and advocacy organizations in the United States. The Chicago League branch was created in 1916 to address the needs of the African American community throughout the Windy City. Over the past century, the League has worked on issues like affordable housing, racial injustice, and police...

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, the late Harold Washington made history in 1983 when he was elected mayor after receiving 51 percent of the vote. Given the city's racial segregation and at times tumultuous race relations, the victory was considered a major accomplishment in the annals of Chicago history. Drawing on the collections held by the Chicago Public Library, this online...