Harold Washington and the Harold Washington Library
Location: 400 S. State
Architect: Hammond, Beeby and Babka
Completed: 1991
Style: Postmodern
Harold Washington (1922-1987), Chicago’s First Black Mayor, seemed destined for a successful political life from an early age. Always known as a people-person who would talk to anyone, Washington used these skills to stand up for the marginalized both in Chicago and the nation.
Raised in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, Washington attended DuSable High School and was drafted into a racially segregated unit of the U.S. Army during World War II, where he rose to the rank of First Sergeant in the Army Air Forces. His unit received the Meritorious Service Unit Award and he was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon returning from active duty, Washington attained a degree from Roosevelt University then attended Northwestern University School of Law where he was the only Black student in his class. He joined the Nu Beta Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1952.
Following graduation, Washington’s career in government and politics took off. He became an assistant city prosecutor, served as precinct captain in the 3rd ward, worked as an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial Commission, served as an Illinois State Representative from 1965-1977, an Illinois State Senator from 1977-1981 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981-1983.
While in Congress, Washington worked tirelessly for the underrepresented in his community and throughout the nation. This included his fight to extend the provisions of the 1965 Federal Voting Rights Act and combat proposed spending cuts for social programs. He also repeatedly condemned budget and tax proposals that he believed benefitted the wealthy at the expense of the poor, denounced moves to weaken the enforcement of affirmative action and ardently supported the Equal Rights Amendment.
In the early 1980s, Black leadership approached Washington about running for mayor. Hesitant to put his hat back in the ring after a failed 1977 mayoral bid, Washington insisted that he would need financial backing and increased voter registration before he would consider another run. As it turned out, dissatisfaction with incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne was at an all-time high among the Black community and support for a Black mayor was strong. When more than 50,000 new voters were registered, Washington saw a path to victory and entered the race.
In 1983, Washington defeated incumbent Jane Byrne in the primary and narrowly defeated Bernard Epton in the general election to become Chicago’s first Black mayor. He was reelected to a second term in 1987. Although Washington was met with opposition from the City Council during his tenure, his accomplishments have had a lasting legacy. He created the city's first environmental affairs department and increased the number of underrepresented groups in city governments and contracts. He balanced economic development between the city’s downtown and individual neighborhoods and created a vibrant cultural plan. His name graces several buildings in Chicago, including the Harold Washington Library, Harold Washington College, Harold Washington Cultural Center and an elementary school in Chatham.
The Harold Washington Library at 400 S. State is an excellent example of postmodern architecture, which is defined by highly symbolic elements. Iconography throughout the building’s design tells the story of Chicago’s history and culture, as well as Washington himself. Perhaps most recognizable are the five towering aluminum barn owls adorning the library’s roof, representing the wisdom and knowledge of both the building’s namesake and the 70 miles of bookshelves living inside. Also notable are the 44 stone medallions adorning the building’s façade. Twenty such figures represent the city’s cold north wind, cleverly depicted as the “Windy City men” medallions on the seventh floor. The remaining medallions on the second floor depict Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain, which pays homage to Chicago’s grand history of agriculture and its location in the Midwest.
Washington died of a heart attack while in office in 1987, just months after his reelection. Tens of thousands of Chicagoans attended his wake at City Hall and lined the streets as his body was transported to Oak Woods Cemetery to be laid to rest.
Additional Resources
United States House of Representatives Biography
Chicago Public Library: Remembering Harold Washington
Chicago Tribune: Harold Washington, 25 Years Later (Video)
WTTW: Remembering Late Mayor Harold Washington
NBC5 Chicago: Death of a Mayor