Chicago Conference on Religion and Race Collection

An inventory of the collection at the University of Illinois at Chicago




Collection Summary

Creator:Chicago Conference on Religion and Race
Title:Chicago Conference on Religion and Race Collection
Dates:1962-1967
Abstract: The Chicago Conference on Religion and Race was formed immediately following the National Conference on Race and Religion in January 1963. The National Conference was the first of its kind, and attracted over 700 clergy members who represented over 60 denominations from across the country. The collection highlights both the National Conference on Religion and Race as well as the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race.
Quantity: 0.25 linear feet
Identification: ChicagoReligionRace

Administrative History

The Chicago Conference on Religion and Race was formed immediately following the National Conference on Race and Religion in January 1963. The National Conference was the first of its kind, and attracted over 700 clergy members who represented over 60 denominations from across the country. Upon the close of the conference, the executive subcommittee of the host committee formed the leadership of the Chicago organization, continuing to represent a diverse faith base including protestant, Catholic, and Jewish clergy and bringing the energy and initiatives of the conference into Chicago's social services community.

The National Conference took place in Chicago over a four day period, and sought to provide a forum for religious leaders to speak frankly about and mobilize their communities over radial segregation and inequality. Breakout sessions covered a variety of issues related to the religious community and racial experience, and concluded with an address by Dr. Martin Luther King.

The Chicago Conference picked up the torch and implemented a variety of the recommendations that came out of the conference, specifically on the topics of housing and employment. By continuing to build upon the interfaith coalitions formed in 1963, the Chicago Conference formed housing information centers to distribute listings of houses and apartments in a non-discriminatory manner, facilitated seminars on open housing for suburban clergy, and operated job finding and employement training programs. The Conference remained active into the 1970's.


Scope and Contents

The collection highlights both the National Conference on Religion and Race as well as the Chicago Conference on Religion and Race. Researchers should be advised that the collection is quite small and only provides a minimal overview of the work of this organization.


Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Subjects:
African Americans --Civil rights --Sources.
Chicago Conference on Religion and Race (1963 : Chicago, Ill.) --Sources.
Interdenominational cooperation --Illinois --Chicago --Sources.
Chicago Community Organizations
Chicago Political and Civic Life


Related Material

Related materials providing both visual documentation and a more complete record of this organization's work can be found in the following collection and repository: Chicago Conference on Religion and Race, Photograph Collection and Manuscript Collection, Chicago Historical Society.


Detailed Description/Box and Folder Listing

Series I: Chicago Conference on Religion and Race

BoxFolder
11Central Housing Center, 1966-1967
2National Conference on Religion and Race, 1963
3Press Coverage and Article Reprints, 1962-1966
4Chicago Conference on Race and Religion - Purpose and Objectives, 1966
5Tri-Faith Employment Project - Press Coverage and Objectives, 1966-1967