Samuel Witwer Collection

Title

Samuel Witwer Collection

Subject

Witwer, Samuel W. (Samuel Weller), 1908-1998
Constitutional amendments--U.S. states
Politicians
Constitutional Convention (Illinois : 1969-1970)
Constitutions--U.S. states

Description

Samuel Witwer grew up in Gary, Indiana before attending Dickinson College and then Harvard Law School. After finishing school, he moved Chicago to live and practice law.

He became interested in constitutional revision in the 1940’s and worked diligently for it, pleading before the Illinois Senate Executive Committee in 1947 and the House of Representatives in 1949. He was actively involved in getting the 1950 “Gateway Amendment” passed which made it easier to amend the constitution. He was the state chairman for the Committee for Constitutional Revision from 1950-1957. Witwer ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1960, losing to Paul H. Douglas.

In 1968 when the voters favored a constitution convention, Witwer was elected as a delegate and then chosen by a 109 to 0 vote of delegates to act as its president. The convention succeeded in drafting a new constitution which was then passed by a large majority of the voters.

Witwer was also involved in civic organizations in Chicago. He was a director of the Chicago Urban League, the Citizens for a Greater Chicago and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. He was a member of the Chicago Union League Club, which gave him an award in 1954 for civic service. The magazine
Chicago recognized him as one of the “five builders of Chicago” in 1954 and the Church Federation of Greater Chicago selected him as “one of three Chicago laymen of the year” in 1956. In 1969 the Citizens of Greater Chicago gave him their award of merit. 

The finding aid for the Samuel Witwer Papers, 1946-1977 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum may be found at http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois/items/show/697.

Photographs in this collection include several images from events supporting the 1950 Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Collection Items

Samuel Witwer and William N. Erickson
Samuel Witwer (left), chairman of the Gateway Amendment Campaign, stands with William N. Erickson, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, as he signs his support during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Wallace Thompson, Martin H. Kennelly, and Adlai E. Stevenson
Republican Senator Wallace Thompson, President Pro-tem of Illinois Senate; Mayor Martin H. Kennelly of Chicago; and Governor Adlai E. Stevenson endorse the Gateway Amendment.

William N. Erickson and Barnet Hodes
William N. Erickson, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and Barnet Hodes, former Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, show their support during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

1950 State Fair Queen
The Illinois State Fair Queen shows her support during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Charles B. Shuman
Charles B. Shuman, President of the Illinois Agriculture Association and co-chairman of the Gateway Amendment Campaign, reads a piece of paper while standing in front of a large scale version of the Gateway Amendment ballot..

George D. Kells
George D. Kells, Democratic State Chairman, attends an event during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Dwight H. Green
Dwight H. Green, former Governor shows his support during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Reed F. Cutler and Dwight H. Green
Reed F. Cutler, minority leader, House of Representatives; former Governor Dwight H. Green; and an unidentified man participate in the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

John Leonard East
John Leonard East, Cook County Republican Chairman, votes yes during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley shows his support during a Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Jacob M. Arvey
Jacob M. Arvey, Democratic Cook County Chairman, shows his support during the Gateway Amendment Campaign.

Michael Witwer and Family
Ethyl Witler holds her grandchild while her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Carol Witwer, stand on either side.

1970 Chicagoan of the Year
An unidentified woman and Ethyl Witwer stand with Samuel Witwer when he received the award for "1970 Chicagoan of the Year" by the Chicago Junior Association of Commerce and Industry.

Samuel Witwer
Statesman Samuel Witwer stands in thought at a podium.

Samuel Witwer
Samuel Witwer appears at an event in Quincy.

Samuel Witwer at Microphone
Samuel Witwer stands at the microphone during an event.

Samuel Witwer
Samuel Witwer speaks at an event.
View all 17 items

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