Northwest Neighborhood Federation records

  • Creator Names Northwest Neighborhood Federation (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Title Northwest Neighborhood Federation records [manuscript], 1972-1993.
  • Physical description
    • 82.5 linear ft. (68 boxes)
    • 4 oversize folders.
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Unprocessed collection. This collection has been assessed for access and can be requested except for noted restrictions. Researchers using this collection will need to sign the Access to Unprocessed Collections form.
    • No noted restrictions at this time.
  • Collection summary Correspondence, topical files, petitions, and records of projects of the Northwest Neighborhood Federation (covering the Chicago neighborhoods of Portage Park, Irving Park, Belmont-Cragin, Hermosa, and Avondale), an activist organization formed in the late 1970s; plus similar materials from an earlier organization, Citizens Action Program, opposing city plans to run a crosstown expressway through the neighborhood in the early 1970s. Topics include promoting neighborhood stability through various direct action methods, such as block watch programs, candidate forums, petition drives to stop illegal real estate solicitation and to focus governmental attention on various threats to community safety, and lobbying efforts for a Guaranteed Home Equity Program for the area. Materials include interview sheets with citizens regarding neighborhood concerns; signed sheets from citizens authorizing the NNF to oppose the Chicago Housing Authority's "Scattered Site" program; and files from the NNF's "Court Monitoring Program" that tracked the progress of misdemeanor, gang-related crimes in the local bench courts."
  • Acquisition information Gift of Northwest Neighborhood Federation (1995.0103).
  • Biographical or Historical Note In 1983, the Northwest Neighborhood Federation and the Southwest Parish and Neighborhood Federation created the Save Our Neighborhoods, Save our City Coalition (SON-SOCC), which focused on home equity, real estate scams, housing policy, and education.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include materials related to Citizens Action Program (Chicago, Ill.), opposition to the proposed Crosstown Expressway, and the Southwest Parish and Neighborhood Federation.
  • Names
    • Northwest Neighborhood Federation (Chicago, Ill.) Archives.
    • Washington, Harold, 1922-1987.
    • Citizens Action Program (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Subjects
    • Community organization Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Crime Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Crosstown Expressway (Chicago, Ill. : Proposed)
    • European Americans Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Express highways Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Housing Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Neighborhood watch programs Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Political activists Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Public housing Illinois Chicago 20th century.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Northwest Side (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Chicago (Ill.) Politics and government 1951-
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
    • Avondale (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Belmont Cragin (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Hermosa (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Irving Park (Chicago, Ill)
    • Portage Park (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Genre
    • Petitions. aat
    • Correspondence. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.