Dawson, William L. (William Levi), 1886-1970

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William Levi Dawson (April 26, 1886 – November 9, 1970) was an American politician and lawyer who represented a Chicago, Illinois district for more than 27 years in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1943 to his death in office in 1970. In 1949, he became the first African American to chair a congressional committee.

Born in segregated Georgia, Dawson attended Fisk University in Tennessee and Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. He served as an officer in the segregated U.S. Army in World War I. Back in Chicago, he became a successful lawyer and community leader.

Like his two predecessors representing Illinois' 1st District, when Dawson was first elected in 1942, he was the only African American in Congress. He was active in the civil rights movement and sponsored registration drives. In the late 1940s he successfully opposed efforts to re-segregate the military.

Dawson was the first African American to chair a committee in the United States Congress, when he chaired the Committee on Expenditures in Executive Departments. He served as Chair of that committee and its successor for most of the years between 1949 and 1970. After 1952, Dawson also became closely aligned with the Democratic city machine in Chicago, collaborating often with Mayor Richard J. Daley. In this role, he focused on patronage and services for his constituents. He gave no support to the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. to shake up city politics in the late 1960s.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Barnett, Claude, 1889-1967. Claude A. Barnett papers, 1918-1967 (bulk 1928-1963). Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Dawson, William L. (William Levi), 1886-1970. William Levi Dawson papers, 1938-1970. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Dawson, William L. (William Levi), 1886-1970. William L. Dawson papers 1943-1970. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789 - 2015. Petitions and Memorials, 1813 - 1968. Petitions and Memorials of the Committee on the Judiciary from the 88th Congress National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn R. C. Hickman Photographic Archive 85-43, 90-135, 85-152, 85-260, 86-301, 87-214, 88-164, 94-120., 1945-1970 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the Office of Communications (Clinton Administration), 1993 - 2001. Don Baer's Files, 1994 - 1997 William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
referencedIn David Goldin Collection. 1932 - 1952. Audio Recordings of Radio Broadcasts of Speeches, Interviews, Combat Reports, Special Events, Public Affairs, and Entertainment for U.S. Troops. 1932 - 1952. DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE PROGRAM National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Arna Bontemps Papers, 1927-1968 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Matthew J. Connelly White House Files (Truman Administration), 1945 - 1952. Presidential Appointments Files, 4/1945 - 12/1952. DAILY PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS (ORIGINAL SET), 1945-1952: Daily Appointments, January-June, 1950 [5 of 12] Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Records of the U.S. House of Representatives. 1789 - 2015. Petitions and Memorials. 1813 - 1968. Remarks of Congressman William Dawson on Presentation of Petition in Support of House Resolution 7453 Center for Legislative Archives
referencedIn R. C. Hickman photographic archive Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1789 - 2015. General Records, 1791 - 2010. Discharge Petition for H.R. 7152, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 12/12/1963 National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Wimbish, Christopher C., 1895-1962. Christopher C. Wimbish papers, 1870-1962. Chicago History Museum
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
almaMaterOf Albany State College corporateBody
associatedWith Barnett, Claude, 1889-1967. person
associatedWith Bontemps, Arna, 1902-1973 person
memberOf Chicago (Ill.). City Council corporateBody
almaMaterOf Chicago-Kent College of Law corporateBody
correspondedWith Daley, Richard J., 1902-1976 person
associatedWith Democratic National Convention. corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Democratic Party (U.S.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Fisk University corporateBody
associatedWith Hickman, R. C., 1922- person
correspondedWith Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978 person
correspondedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.). School of Law corporateBody
associatedWith Rice, Edmund, 1819-1889. person
memberOf United States. Army corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House. corporateBody
associatedWith Wimbish, Christopher C., 1895-1962. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Nashville TN US
Chicago IL US
Albany GA US
Subject
African American lawyers
African American legislators
African American politicians
African Americans
City council members
Election districts
Politicians
Occupation
African American legislators
African American politicians
African American politicians
Army officers
City Councilman
Community Leader
Lawyers
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1886-04-26

Death 1970-11-09

Male

Americans

English

Information

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