Illinois Welfare Association, 1965-1967

The records in the collection document Harris W. Fawell’s principal activities as a state senator for the 41st district from 1965 to 1975. The first series of correspondence files concerns Fawell’s involvement with civic, intergovernmental, and professional organizations, recommendations for the legislative internship program, requests for information from state legislators, and local constituents regarding public policy issues. The subject files contain information on various Illinois councils and commissions and include incomplete sets of minutes of meetings, correspondence, and memoranda between Senator Fawell, the commissions, and his constituents. Arranged alphabetically, files are included for these groups: Office of Collective Bargaining; Illinois Commission on Children; Illinois Department of Mental Health; Illinois Fuel Allocation Office; Illinois Association for Retarded Citizens; Illinois Department of Revenue. Legislative files comprise the third and most extensive series in the collection. Arranged alphabetically by subject within each biennium, the files detail specific legislative programs concerning the government and general welfare of the state from 1965 to 1975. Types of records found in the files include copies of original House and Senate bills, resolutions and amendments sponsored by Fawell. The records concern subjects such as medical care for the disabled, mental health funds, unemployment compensation, pensions, law enforcement, branch banking, highway planning, and administration of the state government.