Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922 – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer and politician who became Chicago’s 51st mayor in 1983, the first African American to hold the job.
Born in Chicago, he grew up in the Bronzeville neighborhood and earned a BA from Roosevelt University and a JD from Northwestern University Law School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II as a First Sergeant. After the war, he practiced law and began his political career in the 3rd Ward.
Washington served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1965 to 1976 and then in the Illinois Senate from 1977 to 1980. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Illinois’s 1st district, serving from 1981 to 1983. In 1983, he ran for Chicago mayor and won the Democratic nomination in a three‑way race, then defeated Republican Bernard Epton in the general election to become mayor on April 29, 1983.
As mayor, Washington faced strong opposition in the City Council from a bloc led by Alderman Edward Vrdolyak, in what supporters called “Council Wars.” Despite this, he pushed reforms, created Chicago’s first environmental department, and formed the Political Education Project (PEP) to organize supporters and help win votes for his programs. He supported civil rights, fair housing, and the extension of the Voting Rights Act, and he worked to improve city services and reduce corruption.
In 1987, Washington won re-election, defeating Edward Vrdolyak in the general election. His second term was cut short when he died of a heart attack on November 25, 1987, at age 65.
Washington’s legacy is still visible in Chicago. The city named the Harold Washington Library Center in downtown Chicago, along with Harold Washington College and Harold Washington Park. The Chicago Public Library houses the Harold Washington Archives and Collections, preserving his life and work.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:05 (CET).