Chicago Gaylords
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The Chicago Gaylords, also known as the Almighty Gaylords, is one of the oldest Chicago street gang. It originated in the neighborhood of Grand and Noble. The original president of the Gaylords selected the name after reading about the Gaylords of France in the public library. They are a part of the People Nation alliance.[1]
The Chicago Gaylords started out as one of the clubs that were started by veterans post-World War II. The majority of the original members were Italian, Irish, Greek, and Mexican American which reflected the population at the time, as the Grand and Ogden area was known as one of Chicago's "Little Italy's." There were many such clubs in Chicago during the post WWII era. Many of these social clubs had their own clubhouses and baseball teams. The Gaylord's clubhouse was on the corner of Ohio and Noble Street.
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[edit] Gang expansion
During their peak period in the 1970s, the Chicago Gaylords held sets (or sections) in both the North Side and the South Side of Chicago. Their South Side sections included Back of the Yards (around 55th & Ashland, Sherman Park), Marquette Park, Pilsen (18th & Western), and Bridgeport (Throop Street). Their North Side presence included Humboldt Park (Moffat & Campbell); Logan Square (Palmer & California, Lawndale & Altgeld); Irving Park (Albany & Byron); Kilbourn Park (Cornelia & Kilbourn); Dunham Park (Montrose & Narragansett); Ravenswood (Seeley & Ainslie); and Uptown (Sunnyside & Magnolia, Lawrence & Broadway). During the 1960s through the early 1980s, the Chicago Gaylords experienced tremendous growth and expansion, with sections popping up all over Chicago. Section Map
[edit] Greaser legacy
Gaylords were also into brawling with fists and traditional type weapons like bricks, baseball bats, chains and knives. As the rules of engagement on the streets of Chicago changed, the Gaylords were forced to use guns and increase their level of violence to combat their enemies.
The Gaylords had a strong presence and experienced continual growth throughout the 1980s. They remained in their traditional neighborhoods while many families moved to the suburbs, and gentrification of poor neighborhoods eliminated their ability to recruit new talent. Today, they are a shell of what they used to be: a gang with over a thousand members.
[edit] Gang structure
Unlike other street nations or gangs, the Gaylords have never had any major president or leader that was in control of the entire collective group. The Gaylords have one or two leaders from each settlement:
| Divisions Within Sets | Age Group |
|---|---|
| Slylords/Palmer Puds | Under 13 |
| Midgets | 13 to 15 |
| PeeWees | 16 to 18 |
| Juniors | 18 to 20 |
| Seniors | 21 and older |
A Gang research map of Chicago shows the Gaylords having a large section in the North and North West Sides with many rival gangs surrounding their turf like the Royals and Imperial Gangsters, their most heated rivals.
The Chicago Gaylords were mentioned in print in the 1979 book Who Runs Chicago?. They were also listed as Chicago's fourth largest gang.
[edit] References
- ^ Florida Department of Corrections. Street Gangs — Chicago Based or Influenced: People Nation and Folk Nation. State of Florida. Retrieved on 2008-03-08.
- Kilian, Michael, Flether, Connie Flether, and Ciccone, Richard F. (1979). Who Runs Chicago:? New York: St. Martin's Press, p.165.
- Scott, Michael Lords Of Lawndale: My Life in a Chicago White Street Gang
- Chicago Daily Tribune (1872-1963); March 3, 1954; ProQuest Historical Newspapers Police Squads Break Up Gang Fight; Arrest 8: Chicago Tribune (1890-1985)Page 3.
- University of ILL. Gang Research Website [1]. Gangs around in the 1930s and 1940s: Para 11.
