Professor Christopher R. Reed, Director, Fax #312-341-3680, Date: Thu, 12 Dec 1996
Chancellor Broski,
I would like to take this opportunity to join in what I hope becomes a groundswell of opposition to the eradication of the Maxwell Street area. As an active scholar on Chicago history who has served both at UIC and Roosevelt in matters aimed at preserving the heritage of neighborhoods in this city, I write in support of retaining some physical aspect or remnant of the Maxwell Street district. Not only was it a port of entry for many ethnic and racial groups, as detailed in the 1990 Fact Book, but it represented a commercial environment with a spirit that is all-American. For vendors and storekeepers, Maxwell Street meant economic opportunity to accumulate capital and advance socially in American society; for customers, Maxwell Street beckoned as an ordinary person's State Street. Unsightly then - yes. Functional and contributing to the making of a city - yes again.
Perhaps the perpetual importance of the area is to be seen in the interest that will be shown in it when the Chicago Historical Society's newest project, "Neighbors: Keepers of Culture," focuses on the area in 1997. I just hope something is left for posterity. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Christopher R. Reed, Associate Professor of History and director
of the Center for African and African-American Studies at Roosevelt
University
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