Chicago Style Politics: Noteworthy Moments from the City Council Audio Recordings
Learn about the battles within the Chicago City Council through their recordings! Join panelists and former aldermen Dick Simspon and David Orr, as we listen to the Office of the City Clerk, City of Chicago’s audio archive of Chicago City Council meetings , featuring Richard J. Daley, Harold Washington, and Eugene Sawyer, accompanied by images from Chicago Public Library’s Special Collections Unit . This event will be moderated by Paul Durica, Director of Curation and Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum.
About the panelists:
Dick Simpson served as the alderman of the 44th Ward from 1971 to 1979. Concurrently, he was a professor of political science at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1967 to 2022. He’s the author of several books including The Good Fight: Life Lessons from a Chicago Progressive and the co-editor with Betty O’Shaughnessy of Chicago’s Modern Mayors: From Harold Washington to Lori Lightfoot .
David Orr served as the alderman of the 49th Ward from 1979 to 1990 and as Cook County Clerk from 1990 to 2018. He was Vice Mayor at the time of Harold Washington’s death in 1987 and served as acting mayor for a week before a replacement was elected.
About the moderator:
Paul Durica is the Director of Curation and Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum. Since 2008, he has led a series of free, interactive talks, walks, and reenactments focused on Chicago's past, collectively called Pocket Guide to Hell.
This program is co-sponsored by Chicago Collections Consortium , Chicago Public Library, and the Society of Midland Authors .
Space is limited to 55 participants. We will admit on a first come, first served basis.
Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
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About the panelists:
Dick Simpson served as the alderman of the 44th Ward from 1971 to 1979. Concurrently, he was a professor of political science at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1967 to 2022. He’s the author of several books including The Good Fight: Life Lessons from a Chicago Progressive and the co-editor with Betty O’Shaughnessy of Chicago’s Modern Mayors: From Harold Washington to Lori Lightfoot .
David Orr served as the alderman of the 49th Ward from 1979 to 1990 and as Cook County Clerk from 1990 to 2018. He was Vice Mayor at the time of Harold Washington’s death in 1987 and served as acting mayor for a week before a replacement was elected.
About the moderator:
Paul Durica is the Director of Curation and Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum. Since 2008, he has led a series of free, interactive talks, walks, and reenactments focused on Chicago's past, collectively called Pocket Guide to Hell.
This program is co-sponsored by Chicago Collections Consortium , Chicago Public Library, and the Society of Midland Authors .
Space is limited to 55 participants. We will admit on a first come, first served basis.
Accessibility
Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
Listed by Chicago Public Library · last updated today