This collection reflects the political career of Michael Anthony Bilandic. It primarily covers his tenure on the Chicago City Council as an alderman for Chicago's 11th Ward from 1969 to 1976 and his term as mayor of Chicago from 1977-1979. It reflects Bilandic's relationship to Mayor Richard J. Daley and documents his election campaigns for both the aldermanic seat and for mayor. The collection reflects the primary political issues that affected Chicago during these years including pollution, big city planning, the expansion of Chicago airports, the development of the lakefront, establishing cable television service, wiretapping by the police department, and the snowstorm of the winter of 1978-1979. It also includes a small amount of information on his tenure as an Illinois Supreme Court justice from 1991 to 2000. Included throughout are some references to Bilandic's personal life as a husband, a father, an artist, and an athlete. This collection includes minutes and reports of the Chicago City Council, Bilandic's personal notes and information he gathered in preparation for City Council meetings and hearings, correspondence between Bilandic and fellow alderman, Mayor Daley, interested parties, and citizens. The collection also contains newspaper clippings and other published accounts regarding issues important to the city council and a number of materials and documents regarding his various political campaigns. It includes many photographs of Bilandic's term as mayor and as an alderman including his trip to the Vatican in Rome, and visits from President Jimmy Carter and Prince Charles of Wales. Photographs and documents of his participation in the Chicago marathon and other races, his 1977 wedding to Heather Morgan, his son, and some of Bilandic's original art work is included.
