John A. McDermott Papers, 1949-1996

This collection is open for research use.

All rights owned by the donor, including copyright, were deeded to Chicago Historical Society. Copyright may be retained by the creators of some third-party items, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law, unless otherwise noted.

Materials were a gift of Mrs. Marie McDermott (accession #: 2010.29)

John A. McDermott papers (Chicago History Museum) plus a detailed description date, and box/folder and series/box number of a specific item.

Correspondence, clippings, speeches and other materials documenting the life and career of John A. McDermott, an urban affairs and civil rights advocate who founded The Chicago Reporter in 1972, served as chairman of CONDUCT (Committee on Decent Unbiased Campaign Tactics) from 1984 to 1990, and served as executive director of the Catholic Interracial Council (CIC). In addition to the Catholic Interracial Council, the collection includes Supreme Court documents and papers related to: the Kennedy Foundation, the Philadelphia Council on Human Relations, and the National Center for the Laity. Topics include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the April 1968 riots in Chicago, and other civil rights. Also included are materials from his term as Director of Urban Affairs at Illinois Bell Company in 1985, and the launch of his own consulting company, John A. McDermott and Associates, in 1992.

John A. McDermott was born in 1926, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and became an officer. He received a B.A. in Philosophy in 1955 from Villanova University, as well as a Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and was a Lasker Fellow in Civil Liberties and Civil Rights at Brandeis University in 1960. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1985. McDermott lived in the Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago with his wife Theresa and three sons.

McDermott’s career in urban affairs and race relations began in the 1950’s when he created a housing program with the City of Philadelphia’s Redevelopment Authority and its Commission on Human Rights. He went on to become a specialist in intergroup relations for the Federal Housing Administration in 1958. In 1960, McDermott moved to Chicago to serve as Director of the Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago (CIC). During this time he also became involved in civil rights in Chicago. As an associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Chicago Freedom Movement and in Dr. King’s meeting with city leaders including Mayor Richard J. Daley. He also served as one of the founders of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities (LCMOC), a Chicago-based fair housing group, and organized the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race (CCRR) in 1963.

McDermott and served as editor and publisher of “The Chicago Reporter” from 1972-1984, a monthly publication and investigation on race relations and urban affairs in the city. He left the Chicago Reporter to become Director of Urban Affairs for Illinois Bell Company in 1985 where he advised about company policies and programs in public policy, philanthropy, and community relations. During this time at the Chicago Reporter and Illinois Bell, 1984-1990, McDermott also served as chairman of CONDUCT (Committee on Decent Unbiased Campaign Tactics), a non-partisan group of Chicago civic leaders who became an election watchdog group, calling out racial and religious bias and hate in Chicago’s politics. In 1991, McDermott retired from Illinois Bell Company and launched his own consulting company, John A. McDermott and Associates, in 1992, which focused on corporate public policy and programs.

Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Chicago Reporter records, Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago records and related materials cataloged separately as well as McDermott correspondence in the Jack Star papers, and the Friendship House records.

• Names
  • McDermott, John A. -- Archives
  • King, Martin Luther, Jr. -- 1929-1968
  • Catholic Inter-Racial Council (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Chicago Freedom Movement
  • National Center for the Laity
  • Chicago Reporter
• Subject
  • African Americans -- Civil Rights -- Illinois -- Chicago-- 20th century
  • Catholics -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
  • Journalism -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
  • Poverty -- Illinois -- Chicago -- 20th century
• Geographic Coverage
  • Chicago (Ill.) -- Social Conditions -- 20th century
  • Chicago (Ill.) -- Riots, 1968 (April)

The collection is arranged in four series. Original order upheld in arrangement.

Series 1. Race and Religion Relations and Civil Rights, 1957-1983 (boxes 1-7)

Series 1 consists of correspondence, news clippings, publications and other files on John McDermott's work on religion, civil rights and race relations in Philadelphia and in Chicago. Included in the series, but not limited to, are topics covering Catholic Inter-Racial Council (CIC), Martin Luther King Jr., Chicago Freedom Movement, Chicago Conference on Laymen, National Catholic Council on Interracial Justice (NCCIJ), and a small amount of material on Chicago Conference on Religion and Race (CCRR).

Series 2. Urban Affairs and Public Policies, 1983-1995 (boxes 8-30)

Series 2 consists of correspondence, news clippings, publications and other files on John McDermott's work in urban affairs. This series covers his time as publisher and editor of The Chicago Reporter, chairman of Urban Affairs at Illinois Bell Company, chairman of the Committee on Unbiased Campaign Tactics (CONDUCT), and executive at John A. McDermott and Associates. Topics range from poverty, race relations, religion, school reform, welfare, to politics in Chicago. Also included in the series is papers and correspondence on John McDermott's participation in many groups and organizations including Chicago City Club, National Center for Laity, Illinois Business Roundtable, Catholic/Jewish Dialogue and Campaign for Human Development.

Series 3. Special Projects, Letters, Correspondence, and Speeches, 1965-1996 (boxes 31-39)

Series 3 contains letters, speeches, and correspondence from John McDermott's personal life and professional work. The series covers various special projects and speeches that McDermott participated in as a advocate for religion, race, and other urban affairs. Correspondence includes those from his personal relationships, professional relationships, public officials, and groups and organizations he was involved with or corresponded with including; Mayor Harold Washington, Paul University Church and State Studies, Corporate Responsibility Group Chicago, and Catholic Theological Union.

Series 4. Publications, 1965-1994 (boxes 40-43)

Series 4 consists of reports, books, and other publications on issues and organizations that John McDermott was associated with. Arranged chronologically.