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Finding aid prepared by KE, 1979; MH, 2005
© 2006 University of Chicago Library
Title: | Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit System in Civil Service Records |
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Dates: | 1921-1939 |
Size: | .5 linear ft. (1 box) |
Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center |
Abstract: | The Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit System in the Civil Service was formed in 1932 as a steering committee for the effort to strengthen and improve the civil service requirements in Illinois. The Records contain correspondence, annual reports, minutes, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks of the Committee. |
No restrictions.
When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit System in Civil Service. Records, [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library
The Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit System in the Civil Service was formed in 1932 as a steering committee for the effort to strengthen and improve the civil service requirements in Illinois. In particular, the group centered its efforts on local and state legislation concerning the employment of Illinois public servants, including sanitary district workers, substitute teachers, park employees and rural health officials. This work was done in affiliation with thirty-four local groups, including the Illinois and Hyde Park League of Women Voters, the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs, the Catholic Women's League, the Municipal Employees' Society, the Juvenile Protective Association and the Illinois Federation of Labor. After seven active years, the committee merged with the Civil Service Association of Illinois in 1939.
One of the organizers and the first chairman of the Joint Committee was Mary Kelborne Nelson, who maintained leadership throughout the 1930's. A consistent advocate for civil service reform, Nelson had lobbied for the defeat of an anti-civil service law (the Wheeler Bill) in 1921, and throughout the 1920's worked closely with the Chicago and Illinois Civil Service Reform Associations.
The Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit System in Civil Service records contain correspondence, annual reports, minutes, newspaper clippings, and scrapbooks of the Committee.
The collection is divided into three series: Series I: Mary Kelborne Nelson Correspondence; Series II: Organization of Joint Committee and Affiliates; Series III: Committee Materials.
The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
Nelson, Mary Kelborne
Illinois Joint Committee for the Merit system in the Civil Service
Civil service-Illinois
Civil service reform
Civil service reform-Illinois
Deans (Education)
Box 1
Folder 1
April-November 1933
Box 1
Folder 2
November-December 1933
Box 1
Folder 3
January-April 1934
Box 1
Folder 4
May-December 1934
Box 1
Folder 5
January-April 1935
Box 1
Folder 6
May-December 1935
Box 1
Folder 7
January-October 1936
Box 1
Folder 8
November-December 1936
Box 1
Folder 9
January-May 1937
Box 1
Folder 10
May-December 1937
Box 1
Folder 11
January-December 1938
Box 1
Folder 12
January-December 1939
Box 1
Folder 13
Anti-Wheeler Bill; Woman's Joint Committee in Illinois Cook County Federation of Women's Club pamphlet
Box 1
Folder 14
Woman's City Club of Chicago and the Civil Service Association of Chicago; Correspondence, 1921-1927
Box 1
Folder 15
County Bureau of Public Welfare
Box 1
Folder 16
Woman's City Club; Rural Health Committee, 1929
Box 1
Folder 17
Woman's City Club; Rural Health Committee, Civil Service Committee, 1932
Box 1
Folder 18
Woman's City Club; Rural Health Committee, National Merit Dinner, 1931
Box 1
Folder 19
Proposed plans for Illinois Federal Employment Service
Box 2
Folder 1
Pamphlets and radio script
Box 2
Folder 2
Reports and correspondence, 1935
Box 2
Folder 3-6
Reports and correspondence, 1936
Box 2
Folder 7-8
Reports and correspondence, 1937
Box 2
Folder 9-10
Reports and correspondence, 1938
Box 2
Folder 11
Reports and correspondence, 1939
Box 2
Folder 12
Annual reports, 1934-1939
Box 2
Folder 13-14
Scrapbooks