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MC72. Springfield Voting Rights Lawsuit, Records & Clippings, 1984-1987

 Collection
Identifier: MC-72

Scope and Contents

Records and newspaper clippings related to the case Frank McNeil et al vs. the City of Springfield et al, known as the Springfield Voting Rights Lawsuit, heard in U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois in 1984-1987. The plaintiffs argued that Springfield's commission form of government was racially exclusive and violated the voting rights of minority residents in the city. The court ruled for the plaintiffs, resulting in the reorganization of the city's government in the aldermanic model and the defeat of Springfield mayor Mike Houston.

Includes photocopies of court documents from the case McNeil vs. City of Springfield and related actions; copies of exhibits used in the case, including maps, and demographic, voting and census data on the distribution of races in Springfield and their historical voting behavior; notes, correspondence and a class project on the case; and an collection of newspaper clippings, 1984-1987, from the Illinois State Journal-Register and other newspapers on the issue.

Dates

  • Created: 1984 - 1987
  • Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1987

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

None

Extent

0.66 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

Chronological

Source of Acquisition

Mike Townsend

Title
Archon Finding Aid Title
Description rules
Other Unmapped
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Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
und

Repository Details

Part of the UIS Archives/Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Archives/Special Collections LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407 US
217-206-6520