UIC Library receives Doug Dobmeyer Papers
Social activist Doug Dobmeyer, a long-time Chicago advocate for the homeless, has donated his professional papers to the University of Illinois at Chicago Library.
As a communications consultant, Dobmeyer works with nonprofit organizations on persistent social issues, particularly housing and emergency social services.
The Doug Dobmeyer Papers comprise 106 cases of papers documenting organizations for which Dobmeyer served as founder, director, board member or consultant between 1978 and 2008. The papers include administrative records, correspondence, reports, publicity and fundraising materials and media coverage.
Ann Weller, head of special collections at the UIC Library, said historians, policy-makers and community activists will find the collection a source of unique primary research materials.
"These documents tell the stories of small organizations that have significantly affected public policy," Weller said. "Information about such organizations often is ephemeral. Their contributions to political and social history can easily be lost if collections such as Dobmeyer's are not preserved."
Dobmeyer published the newsletter Poverty Issues: Dateline Illinois from 1996 to 2001, wrote a political column for Streetwise from 1998 to 2001, and published Today's Issues, an online journal covering political and social issues. His 1996 book, Competing Successfully for Media Coverage, advises community groups on public relations strategy.
"I hope that researchers, media, students and the general public will use these papers to learn from the past and plan better for the future," Dobmeyer said. "I am most grateful to UIC's library for the opportunity to house these papers. These papers will add to the historical fabric of the city."
The collection includes materials from:
-Center for Street People
-Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
-Chicago Community Trust Fellowship
-Chicago Department of Housing
-Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund
-Lakefront SRO Corporation (now Lakefront Supportive Housing)
-Public Welfare Coalition
-Residents for Emergency Shelter
-Task Force to Oppose Gambling in Chicago
-Voice of the People in Uptown
A finding aid for the Doug Dobmeyer Papers will be available online.
To make an appointment to view materials in the Special Collections department, use the Ask a Librarian service., field_56ba6f8fdb00c